Fasting Encouragement Day Nine

Well, it’s day nine of our fast! I pray that you have been able to connect with Jesus in ways that you have never before experienced. Today, we are reflecting on Romans 12. This is one of my favourite passages in scripture. The Apostle Paul in these verses gives us an effective blueprint for Christ-like living.

Paul begins his appeal that we as believers should present our bodies as a living sacrifice unto God. I believe this is a relative thought to reflect on as we deny ourselves during this period of fasting. This idea of being a living sacrifice is central to everything else that Paul lays out for us in this passage. While we understand that Jesus died in our place on the cross taking for us the full punishment for our sins, we seldom pause to consider that requires us to be a living sacrifice. What does that even mean? What does it look like to be a living sacrifice?

The first requirement in becoming a living sacrifice is willingness. Willingness to stay on the altar of God submitting to Him, daily denying ourselves and taking up the cross of Jesus Christ. It is the living sacrifice that presents Jesus to the world around us, that reflects His beauty, majesty and splendour for all the world to see. The living sacrifice lays down themselves in order to be clothed in the righteousness of Christ, understanding fully well that it is not our own righteousness that redeems, only His. To the apostle Paul, the most spiritual form of worship to God is worship that can be seen in the way we live and conduct our lives.

The second requirement in becoming a living sacrifice is renewing our minds. The living sacrifices are the ones who are having their minds transformed daily. These two things are not mutually exclusive of each other. As we deny ourselves daily and die to ourselves on the altar of God, our minds are renewed, and as our minds are renewed, we are more willing to die daily. This cycle is what I would like to propose to you, what Sanctification looks like; it is here in this cycle that we are conformed to the image of Jesus. If there is ever a cycle to be stuck in in life this is it! It is here in this cycle we are able to endure the testing of our faith, counting it pure joy, knowing fully well that whatever we are facing God is able to use it for our good.

It is in this place of being a living sacrifice that unity within the church is formed. V3 (ESV): For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgement, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. There is no striving or contention with living sacrifices, they are able to move with one purpose and goal, which is to exalt the name of Jesus Christ.

So what are the characteristics of being a living sacrifice? V 9-21

● Love that is genuine.
● Hating what is evil; but holding fast to what is good.
● Love for one another.
● Outdoing one another in showing honour.
● Not being passive in doing the work that God has set out for us.
● Rejoicing in hope.
● Being patient in tribulation.
● Being constant in prayer.
● Contributing to the needs of the saints.
● Seeking to show hospitality.
● Blessing those who persecute you.
● Rejoicing with those who rejoice.
● Weeping with those who weep.
● Living in harmony with one another.
● Not being haughty, but associating with the lowly.
● Never being wise in your own sight.
● Repaying no one evil for evil.
● Giving thought to do what is honourable in the sight of all.
● Living peaceably with all.
● Never avenge yourselves, but leave it to God to vindicate you.
● Not being overcome by evil, but overcoming evil with good.

As you make your way through this ninth day, I want to encourage you to reflect on these points and ask Jesus to lead you in becoming a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to him.

Yours in His service,
Jeremy