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‘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.’ (Romans 12:1)

The Apostle Paul spends the first half of Romans explaining the salvation story in great detail—that Jesus died for us while we were sinners and helpless to save ourselves. He goes on to explain that God did not reject His chosen people Israel, but that they rejected Him. I imagine the Christians in Rome asking Paul, ‘How can we know if we are chosen by God? Is it possible that God will un-choose us?’ The answer in Romans is, ‘Look at all God has done to choose you and save you. Look at how faithful He is. Now, are you willing to choose Him?’

Paul spends 11 chapters carefully laying out God’s faithfulness, and then he says, ‘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’ (Romans 12:1).

Our proper response to God’s incredible goodness is to offer Him our whole lives. To be ‘living sacrifices.’

The question for us is: What does it mean to live and lead as a ‘living sacrifice’?  

Three Qualities of Leading as ‘Living Sacrifices’

As we read Romans 12, three qualities of being a living sacrifice stand out:

  • A renewed mind (v2). The first thing that changes is our thought life. We see ourselves and others differently. We do not think in the same ways as our culture around us does. We allow God to transform how and what we think about.
  • Humility (v3-8). Leading as a living sacrifice means humbling ourselves to learn and grow from the wisdom, experience, and skills that God has placed in others. 
  • Love (v9-18). It is easy to get so focused on tasks and projects that we forget the need to love, care, and listen to the needs of those we lead. Leading as a living sacrifice means taking the time to love others sincerely.

Let’s continue our study of sacrificial service in leadership through the devotion attached.

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