7Journeys Journaling: Day 1--Romans 12

What does it look like to offer my body--my life--as a living sacrifice?

In Romans 12:2, Paul says "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." In other words, Paul starts off by saying, "Rebel! Rebel!" but then before we can become anarchists, he says, "only conform to God's renewal of your mind."

Jesus fights rebellion with rebellion. Just as our world and our flesh rebelled against God and His desires, Jesus calls us to rebel against the world. And how do we rebel?

Verses 3-21 lay out the plan for attack. These are God's desires for what are hearts should be transformed into. These are the grenades we will lob against a society that turns its back on God. When we attack, this is how we attack:

"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

The simple things that God asks of us can often seem like the hardest. As I look through these truths in Romans 12, I think, "Why is it so hard to do these things? Why is it so hard to throw my ego under the bus?"

Living sacrifices. Sacrifices are not meant to be easy or convenient. Sacrifices are always simple. Kill this calf. Burn this wheat. Love your enemy. A sacrifice must be just that--a sacrifice. If it doesn't cause me some type of pain to my ego or discomfort, then what have I really sacrificed. (Don't take that so far as too say masochism is the best form of sacrifice. Masochism is still pride.)

"...offer your bodies as living sacrifices..."

How will I make my sacrifice today? Will I let myself be humble? Will I let myself be convicted? Will I give up an opportunity to advance socially in order to serve another? Will I give away money? Will I sacrifice control?

Control. Will I sacrifice the control--and the need for control--I have on my life? The need to stay comfortable and the need to keep the boat from rocking too far?

If I believe that God has my back and that God has beautiful dreams for what my life could be...then I must learn to sacrifice.