Devotional Pondering – “I have to sacrifice WHAT???”

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Romans 12:1

Just the idea alone of sacrificing or giving up something in our lives, at times, seems preposterous.  Why would we ever want to sacrifice anything…it’s an honest confession, and a shared sentiment with many.  Sacrifice can be a hard thing to do in our lives which often include more excess and over-excess rather than “less”.  I’m sure you have heard the phrase “less is more” and in the case of the Holiness this certainly fits, at least in the practical physical sense.  

Question: What are we willing to sacrifice in order to have a closer relationship with God?
Perhaps the idea of giving up something physical in your life bothers you.  Perhaps knowing that the Lord requires this in order to help you grow seems hard even harsh.  Let me ask you this – what consumes your day?  Is it your job?  Is it your pursuit of more stuff?  Are you living beyond your current means?  I don’t mean to pry but honestly mammon or the pursuit of stuff has almost become our worldly false god especially in the Western world.  We see a new commercial on T.V. for the biggest and nicest car and we crave it.  We go to a friend’s house and they show off their new 60′ television with all the new features and we covet it.  Mammon – this pursuit of stuff has a way of choking our spiritual lives to death.  

I’m not saying money or things are inherently evil, not at all.  Some of these things are necessary items and can be used for good…but if it becomes our obsession, then perhaps we have placed things and “stuff” above God.  

Sacrifice requires something from us.  Sacrifice in the spiritual sense means we are willing to think more about our relationship with God and less about our own selfish wants and desires.  Sacrifice is more than just a way of life it has to become a thought process and a lifestyle.  

“he (Jesus) humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” -Philippians 2:8 (NLT) 

If we are to become holy in our lifestyles, attitudes and actions, then we have to emulate the very attributes of Christ who became death, took death from us, and in so doing redeemed us.  Humility, in the spiritual sense, goes hand in hand with becoming a living sacrifice for God and for the people around us (regardless if they are good or bad).  

Prayer:  Dear Lord, show me what a living sacrifice looks like.  I have, at times, filled my life with pride, arrogance and things that attempted to replace you.  Forgive me of this, help me to see the threat of mammon in my life and guide me in your truths…lead me Lord.  I long to be like you, help me to see how I can become humble in spirit so that I may be your witness to the world around me.  Help me to see others through your eyes and guide me in your truths.  -Amen.