A Never-Ending but Reasonable Sacrifice

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers [and sisters], by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:1-2 ESV).

Every day in my office, I notice the well-used circular coaster that has become a permanent fixture on my desk.

This leather-embossed protector displays the branding of my initials. Still, it is too small to hold my coffee cup without the edges of the cup overflowing. Despite its worn and cracked appearance and the fact it is too small to hold a cup adequately, it remains a cherished possession. The thought of “giving it up” is, well, too painful!

Why? Because that little leather-worn coaster is a prized possession, conjuring up a strong emotional connection for me.

You see, my oldest daughter made it for me when she was in the first grade. Every time I look at it, I recall her smile and how excited she was when she handed her gift to me over 50 years ago. To discard it would require a costly sacrifice!

The apostle Paul summons us “not to be conformed to this world” but rather to “present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.” He recognizes that a “non-conformist” attitude cannot occur without “sacrifice.”

Christ’s command “…to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind…” (Luke 10:27) requires ultimate surrender—a daily sacrifice submitting our will to God’s purpose.

Paul’s appeal for us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice is more understandable by his original audience than today. Familiar with animal sacrifice, his first-century listeners had stood by the altars, watching an animal they owned ritually slain. They observed its blood spilled and were familiar with the smell of burning flesh on the altar of the deity they worshipped.

To sacrifice a lamb or ox to the god they worshipped was costly economically and, in some cases, emotionally (see 2 Samuel 12).

To live in a manner pleasing and acceptable to God will regularly place us on an altar that demands ultimate surrender. To be in this world without conforming to the world requires our daily sacrifice.

To surrender my “body” (my understanding, emotions, desires, preferences—my whole being) isn’t easy. My problem is not getting on the altar. The challenge is staying on the altar of sacrifice.

So how can Paul make such an urgent appeal that requires such an enormous, total sacrifice?

He bases his exhortation on God’s mercy, οἰκτιρμός, which is rendered “compassion.” The word describes one who “shows mercy and concern, with the implication of sensitivity and compassion—one who demonstrates mercy, compassion, and is tender.”⁠1

The first 11 chapters in Paul’s letter to the Romans call us to live “righteously.” They also reveal the never-ending beauty of God’s mercy. Paul underscores the benefit of God’s mercy toward us:

“…but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 ESV).

It is based on God’s incredible love and the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, that Paul urges us to offer a never-ending sacrifice of our whole being, holy and acceptable to God. And when we consider God’s mercy, that seems very reasonable.

1 Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 750.

Reflection Questions

• In what ways do you recognize the sacrifices required in your own life to avoid conforming to the world? 
• Consider your daily routines, relationships, or commitments. Are there habits or activities that you might need to let go of to make room for a deeper spiritual connection or service to others?
• Think about items, relationships, or traditions in your life that hold significant memories. How do these connections shape your understanding of what it means to sacrifice for something greater?
• How does contemplating God’s mercy and compassion impact your willingness to make sacrifices?

‍