Weblog Entry - 01/23/2005: Volume 71 - A Living Sacrifice by Milt Rodriguez

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01/23/2005: Volume 71 - A Living Sacrifice by Milt Rodriguez"

A Living Sacrifice

"I exhort you therefore, brothers, through the compassions of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service."
Romans 12:1
Present your bodies a living sacrifice
Please notice with me that in the above quote there are many bodies yet only one sacrifice. Have you ever seen this before? How many times have you read this and yet never noticed this? Funny how our minds work. We read and comprehend things according to a predetermined set of criteria that automatically feeds us the meaning. Our minds want to tell us that this verse is all about the "individual" Christian life. But that is not the case at all.
In the Greek, the word 'bodies' is plural and 'sacrifice' is singular. This indicates that, although many bodies are presented, they become one sacrifice. Therefore, this whole passage here in Romans 12, taken in its proper context, is not about the individual Christian life, but rather, is about God's will and purpose, the Body of Christ!
There we see one sacrifice being presented to God. This sacrifice requires our entire being which includes body (v.1), soul (v.2), and spirit (v.11)
This Sacrifice is Living
This sacrifice is alive through resurrection life. This is the divine life that has passed through and overcome death and therefore, can never die again. This is not like the sacrifices of the Old Testament that were all slain when they were presented. This sacrifice is always living to God.
This Sacrifice is Holy
This sacrifice is holy because it has been separated unto God by the blood of Christ from the world for the purpose of proving God's perfect will. This sacrifice has been completely consecrated (dedicated) to God in order that He may have His visible expression here on the earth. Therefore, this sacrifice is well pleasing to God.
One Sacrifice, One Service
Not only is this a single sacrifice, but it is also a single service. Our service to God should not be one that is individual, separated, and unrelated. All our service should constitute one whole service to God, not many individuals who are all doing their own things. There is no such thing as "my" ministry or "your" ministry. It is all the ministry of Christ that we all share in. It is the ministry of the Body and to the Body. It is Body ministry that flows out of Body life. This is the life of Christ flowing through the members to one another and to the world. This is not detached individuals performing their own separated "ministries."
Transformation
Change can only come from the inside out. Once the sacrifice is presented to God and given to Him as a continual dedication then He begins the transformation process. This begins with a compete renewing of the mind. His goal is the building up of the Body of Christ so that He might have an expression of His fullness. He accomplishes this goal is by conforming each member into the image of His dear Son.
It begins with the turning of the mind to the spirit so that the mind can be renewed and set free from the mold of the this age and begin thinking along the lines of God's purpose and plan which is to have His own visible expression that Paul called the Body of Christ.
First, there must be a separation from the world. The external environment can no longer be the sphere of primary influence. The inner temple of God within the Body must now become the center of influence. The members must learn to turn inward to find their Lord, and to there, be fed by Him. The age of this world can no longer dictate the life of these chosen ones. This Sacrifice has been "set apart" for the unique purpose of expressing her Lord. Things of the world (external things) no longer hold any attraction for her because now she is being drawn to hide away with Him who lives within her.
As this living sacrifice beholds her Lord she is being changed from glory to glory (II Cor. 3:18). As she decreases, He increases and more and more of His life is expressed through her. She only has to set her mind on the spirit (Ro. 8:6) and her mind will be renewed. The more she turns to Him (inwardly), in her spirit, the more her mind is focused on eternal things and away from things of this present age.
The present age is one of self-centered individualism which comes from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This sacrifice only has one hope of being saved from such a perverse generation, she must discover her Lord contained within her own members and then draw from His life found within each one. She can no longer find her satisfaction within her own self absorbed, separated, independent lifestyle. Isolation cannot be her refuge any longer. He only alternative to the world is the Body. She must learn to function and live out from the life of the Body. Her own life can no longer sustain her, in fact, it never really did.
This living sacrifice is a sweet smelling fragrance to our God. This sacrifice produces the purpose of His heart; to have a living, breathing image of His Son. To have a visible expression of His own glory on the earth. To have a Body that will truly express His life so that the world will know that the Father has sent Him.
written by Milt Rodriguez