Imagine, if you dare, a lamb being brought to the altar for sacrifice at the portable tent/tabernacle of ancient Israel. Cruel as it may seem to some, the sacrificial act soon renders the lamb lifeless. Before the sacrifice the lamb had possessed a mind, a will, and a demeanor that reflected both. Now, the lamb has neither mind, will, nor demeanor. With that picture in mind, listen now to what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Church:
"I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Romans 12:1
Imagine the lifeless lamb as you answer the following questions: What does the lamb now desire? What does the lamb now feel about his surroundings/circumstances? If a lamb could possess an "agenda," what would this lamb's agenda be? How much would this lamb want to be pleased? If you made it through my questions without giving me up for ridiculous for even asking such things about a dead lamb, then grant me one more question. What is the difference between a dead sacrifice (as the lamb above) and a living one (as in the quote above)?
I'm thinking that the difference between a dead and living sacrifice is the ongoing act of surrender. Obviously, a dead sacrifice surrenders nothing. His desires, feelings, and agenda now offer no competition. But the living sacrifice still has desires, feelings, and agendas. And they must be consciously surrendered. To clarify the picture of that living sacrifice, let me give you the direct "interlinear" translation, from the Greek, of the central phrase of the verse above:
"to stand with the body of you sacrifice living, holy one, well pleasing" which is your logical service."
Imagine again, this time it's you standing there, holding your fleshy body, with it's dreams, desires, hopes, aspirations, it's frustrations, worries, fears, and pains, it's goals, demands, and agendas. And there you stand, handing you over to God. Surrendering all that you are to Him, so that you can be all that He created you to be.
For that reason, this interlinear phrasing painted a beautiful (but difficult) picture for me.
Father, I have so much of me that competes with your will for me. I have so much of me that isn't ready, willing, and able to follow your Son. Help me daily to remember your great mercy, your amazing grace toward me. And help me every morning to stand with the body of me sacrifice and offer me to you. Help me surrender all the things that the lamb could not choose to surrender. Help me live the life You created me to live. Help me do the good You created me to do.
Posted via email from We've Encountered a Terrifying Grace
