Latest / The Bible Bit Podcast / A Living Sacrifice
Transcript
- 0:01Welcome back. This is Kimmy Miller of Woman at the Well Ministries bringing
- 0:04you another Bible bit for you to enjoy.
- 0:07A living sacrifice. Today as we journey through the scriptures looking at the
- 0:12importance of our witness, we're going to spend some time closely examining Romans 12, 1 through 2.
- 0:19It seems that many people who call themselves Christians are very confused about
- 0:24what it means to be God's witness or a witness for Jesus Christ.
- 0:28It seems that they think it is some elaborate strategy or complicated set of actions.
- 0:34In reality, it is simply living your life for Christ and glorifying Him with
- 0:39your words, deeds, and hearts.
- 0:43It is no more than your reasonable service. Paul, in Romans 12, 1 and 2, puts it this way.
- 0:50I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your
- 0:55bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
- 1:03And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of
- 1:09your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
- 1:17Paul is urging us to demonstrate a godly witness with our lives.
- 1:21He is telling us that through and by the mercies of God, we are to present to
- 1:26the world a life that is devoted to God's work, consecrated to God,
- 1:32and in alignment with the teachings of Jesus.
- 1:35We are to be a living sacrifice. Our lives are to be lived for God,
- 1:42directed by God, and bear witness to the fact that we have crucified the flesh, Galatians 5, 24.
- 1:50We are to dedicate ourselves to living a holy life that is well-pleasing to the Lord.
- 1:56And though you may think that living sacrificially for God is a tall order,
- 2:01He says it is your reasonable service.
- 2:04Because of all He has done for you, it is logical and rational that you would
- 2:10devote your life to him as an act of worship.
- 2:14As born-again believers, we are new creatures, and old things are passed away,
- 2:19and all things have become new.
- 2:212 Corinthians 5.17 We are no longer conformed to this world with its superficial
- 2:27values and customs, but we are continually transformed into spiritually mature Christians.
- 2:34This transformation takes place as we purpose in our hearts to exhibit godly
- 2:40values, pursue the commandments of Jesus, and live in accordance with the ways of Christ.
- 2:47We are to be holy as He is holy.
- 2:501 Peter 1.16 My friend, having a godly witness isn't some pie-in-the-sky dream.
- 2:58It is an achievable reality because of the mercies of God that enable you to
- 3:03have the strength to do what He requires.
- 3:06Philippians 4.13 empowers you to do what He asks, John 15, 5,
- 3:13and the grace to stay the course, 2 Corinthians 12, 9.
- 3:18Our lives are not our own. We were bought with a price.
- 3:23Therefore, we must do all that we can to bring glory and honor to the King of
- 3:28kings and the Lord of lords, Jesus Christ, 1 Corinthians 6, 20.
- 3:34Our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, 1 Corinthians 6, 19.
- 3:40As such, we must be very aware that everywhere we go, we take the Holy Spirit.
- 3:46Everything we do, we force him to be present.
- 3:50As born-again believers, we have an obligation to live holy lives that shine
- 3:56God's light to a lost and dying world.
- 3:59But, my friend, our service should not be out of obligation.
- 4:04The finished work on Calvary, which gives us his free gift of salvation,
- 4:09is more than enough for any reasonable, logical person to want to submit to
- 4:15an Almighty God who has their best interests at heart.
- 4:19Jeremiah 29, 11 Remember, you are loved. Jesus loves you.
- 4:25Please visit Woman at the Well Ministries at www.watwm.org for more resources,
- 4:30podcasts, and to connect with us.