Day Seven – What does it mean to be a living sacrifice?

Day Seven – What does it mean to be a living sacrifice?
Passage: Pet
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will.

(NIV) Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Does the term “living sacrifice” scare you a little? It should. When Paul is asking us to transform our minds and our lives in order to sacrifice, he is not joking around. The same is true with Peter’s writing. Also let’s not forget the words of our Lord Jesus Christ in , “You will be hated by all because of My name.” You will suffer as Christ did, if you are serious about obedience and humility. But learning from Christ and learning to be like Christ means that we will be living sacrifices.
So what does it mean? As we have studied this week, learning from Christ and learning to be like Christ means that we be humble. We need to be willing to set aside our own agenda. Sacrifice our time, energy, and money for the Lord to serve other men. Being a living sacrifice mean we die to ourselves. And we instead let our entire beings be used by God for his purpose. We give up our own bodies and mind to God every day. All of it is His!
It is worth it in the end. When we suffer for Christ, we are free from sin! We are choosing to do God’s will. It is amazing to fathom. As says, we are new creations in Christ. And to end with one note of encouragement: Dallas Willard upon reflecting on , asks us to imagine the cost of non-disciple. Sure the cost of discipline is high, but the cost of non-discipline is even greater (Willard, 1). Take on the yoke of the Lord and humbly serve others!