Reflections
I beseech you, brethren, because of the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. (Rom. 12:1)
There is no other place God will bring us if we want to walk in the Truth and come into the fullness of Jesus Christ except what is described in Romans 12:1. However, you will note that the tone is not morbid or depressing. Rather, it is positive — Paul’s appeal is, “because of the mercies of God,” and not because of some threat of punishment if we don’t obey. This is because Paul is describing a practical means of losing our lives in order to find Christ as our life.
If we were to take this verse and restate it as a prayer to God, it might read, “Lord, do whatever it takes to bring your will to pass in me — do whatever it takes to bring me into the fullness of Christ.” That really is, “presenting yourself as a living sacrifice.” Do we want the glory of God and His purpose in Christ enough to ask God, “to do whatever it takes to bring it to pass?”
What will it take? The details will vary with the individual. But the basis will be the same — it will take a work of the Cross and the loss of myself to Christ, that I may find Him. This is the altar upon which I am to present myself. This is a prayer God will always answer. I must then believe and obey when God does begin to answer.