Mother; A Living Sacrifice (this is Worship)

Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

I’ve always been intrigued by this oxymoron: living sacrifice. By its most common definition, sacrifice means dying, so to pair it with the word living seems a contradiction. In our world that stresses the importance of “self care,” love by God’s definition is giving up our life for another.  

1 John 3:16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

Phil 2:17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

John 15:12-13 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Luke 9:23-24 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

This living as a sacrifice is something non-Christians and the secular culture will not understand.

1 John 3:1,11,13,16-18   See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. … For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. … Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. … By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

This is for every Christian, not just if you’re a mom. But mothers illustrate this selfless love in a unique way as they literally give up their body to sustain another.

1 Thess. 2:7-8 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

2 Cor 5:15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

Eph 5:1-2 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

A dying sacrifice looks like being a one-time martyr for Christ. What does a LIVING sacrifice look like?

Hebrews 13:15-16  Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Ps 50:14, 23 Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving (Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God NLT) … The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me

Ps 107:22 And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!

Ps 116:15, 17 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. … I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD.

1 Peter 2:4-5 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

For a mother it’s the unglamorous putting others’ needs before your own; wiping boogers, wiping bottoms, giving up sleep to feed and care for a newborn, giving up more sleep when older children call in the night with a nightmare or sickness. It’s doing the monotonous things day after day WITH THANKSGIVING – laundry, dishes, making food, picking up toys the kids always seem to miss. It’s teaching and training when it would be easier and faster to do it yourself. When we give our lives daily, as a sacrifice, with praise and thanksgiving (not begrudgingly) – no matter where we live or what else is going on in our lives – we are doing God’s will!

1 Thess. 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

This is worship.

Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.