Romans 12:1

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Living as a Christian isn’t about living for myself. It’s about living for everyone else. Paul says it this way in Romans 12, “offer your bodies as living sacrifices, this is your spiritual act of worship.”

Contrary to a world and human nature that believe living is all about self, the Christian faith moves us to look outward. Who needs my life? Who needs my time? Who needs my kindness and service? And how can I meet those needs?

Granted, what Paul says in Romans 12:1 is hard, for two reasons.

First, it’s not easy to do the opposite of what comes naturally. Our natural self bristles at the idea of service without thought of self. Our natural self thinks of itself first and others only when it’s advantageous or deserved. We live in a world that embodies that.

Second, how many times do we wiggle out of living for others because we feel others don’t deserve it? Or maybe they are just difficult to love?

Thankfully, we have a Savior who not only embodied Romans 12 for us, but lived Romans 12 for us. He literally sacrificed himself for us and for all people. No one deserved that. No one made that easy. However, he did it without conditions, and the blessings of his sacrifice now belong to all who believe in him. His sacrifice means our lives have been redeemed from self and for God.

With ransomed lives, how can we embody the sacrifice of Jesus for others? Who needs our time, our prayers, our kindness, and service? The opportunities abound all around. And we get to share our lives with them.