Part Two –
( From, “A Living Sacrifice”)
Romans 12:1 – New International Version – (NIV)
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.
By striving to live in a way that honors God, you embody the verse’s call to live a life of dedicated service and devotion.
This verse encapsulates the essence of Christian discipleship—a life of Surrender, Obedience, and Devotion to God, motivated by His boundless Mercy and Love.
Romans 12:1 serves as a call to action for believers to dedicate their entire beings—body, mind, and soul—to God. Let’s break it down a bit:
- “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters…”: This indicates that what follows is a strong urging or encouragement to believers.
- “…in view of God’s mercy…”: The motivation for the appeal is the Mercy of God. Throughout the previous chapters in Romans, Paul has been explaining God’s Grace and Mercy in saving sinners through Faith in Jesus Christ.
- “…to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice…”: The idea of offering oneself as a sacrifice is deeply rooted in the Old Testament sacrificial system. However, here Paul speaks of offering our bodies as “A Living Sacrifice,” implying a continuous dedication rather than a one-time event. This involves surrendering our desires, ambitions, and actions to God’s will.
- “…holy and pleasing to God…”: The sacrifice we offer should be characterized by Holiness and Obedience, pleasing to God. This highlights the importance of living a life that reflects God’s character and follows His commandments.
- “…this is your true and proper worship.”: True worship is not confined to religious rituals or ceremonies but encompasses every aspect of our lives. Offering ourselves to God in Obedience and Holiness is the essence of worship.
Overall, Romans 12:1 challenges believers to live in response to the Grace and Mercy of God, offering themselves wholly and continuously to Him as an act of Worship.
Several other passages in the Bible echo themes similar to Romans 12:1 and provide further insights into the concept of offering oneself as a living sacrifice and living a life of devotion to God. Here are a few:
- Galatians 2:20 (NIV):
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” This verse emphasizes the identification of believers with Christ in His death and resurrection. It speaks to the idea of dying to self and living by faith in Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV):
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” This passage highlights the sacredness of the believer’s body as a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit and calls for honoring God with one’s body through holy living.
- Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV):
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” While not directly about offering oneself as a living sacrifice, this passage emphasizes selflessness and humility, which are crucial aspects of the Christian life and are closely related to the concept of sacrificial living.
- Hebrews 13:15-16 (NIV):
“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Here, the writer of Hebrews encourages believers to offer sacrifices of praise and good deeds, highlighting the importance of both spiritual and practical expressions of devotion to God.
These passages, among others, provide additional insights and encouragement regarding the Christian life of sacrificial devotion, selflessness, and obedience to God.
In today’s world, Romans 12:1 remains profoundly relevant, offering timeless guidance for navigating the complexities of modern life. In a society often driven by self-interest and instant gratification, this verse challenges us to a countercultural way of living—a life of sacrificial devotion to God and others.
Heavenly Father,
As we come before You in prayer, we are reminded of Your boundless mercy and love. We thank You for the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that we might live in Him.
Lord, we surrender ourselves to You afresh today, offering our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to You. May our lives be a testament to Your grace, reflecting Your love and truth in all that we do.
Help us to daily crucify our selfish desires and ambitions, finding our identity in Christ alone. May His life be lived out through us, as we walk by faith and trust in Your leading.
Father, we acknowledge that our bodies are temples of Your Holy Spirit, and we pray for the strength and wisdom to honor You with our thoughts, words, and actions. Help us to flee from sin and pursue righteousness, seeking to glorify You in everything.
Teach us, Lord, to value others above ourselves, to walk in humility and love, and to serve one another with joy and sincerity. May our lives be marked by selflessness, compassion, and a genuine concern for the needs of others.
Grant us the grace to offer to You a sacrifice of praise continually, lifting our voices in worship and adoration, even amidst life’s challenges and trials. And may our good deeds and acts of kindness be pleasing sacrifices in Your sight, as we seek to reflect Your goodness to the world around us.
In all things, Lord, may Your name be exalted, and Your kingdom advanced. May Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
We pray all these things in the Precious Name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
Amen 🙏❤
Willie Torres Jr.
6/7/2024
You Are Loved
Willie Torres Jr. 
49 responses to “Holy and Pleasing To The Lord”
Thank you for sharing such an insightful and inspiring reflection on Romans 12:1. Your thorough explanation and the connections you draw to other biblical passages provide a deep understanding of what it means to live as a “living sacrifice” for God.🌷
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for Reading and Commenting.
I’m delighted and grateful that you found the post enjoyable. I hope it brought you blessings and resonated with you in some manner.
Be Blessed and Be a Blessing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen🙌
Thank you for sharing, an inspiring post.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank You for Reading and Commenting. Thank you for your kind words. I’m glad and blessed that you found it inspiring.
God Bless You today and always.
LikeLiked by 2 people
My pleasure. 🙌🙌
LikeLiked by 2 people
Extraordinary and blessed post, Willie ❤ !! May God shine upon you and yours just as your glorious writing lightens and uplifts our world! ❤ ~ Always 🙂
LikeLiked by 4 people
Thank you so much for your kind words and blessings!
I’m deeply touched by your heartfelt message.
Thank you for Reading and Commenting.
Be Blessed and Be a Blessing.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you. The post is inspiring and there is a calmness to it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you so much for Reading and Commenting.
I’m glad you found the post inspiring! It definitely has a calming effect, doesn’t it? It’s always nice to stumble upon content that uplifts and brings a sense of peace. Thanks for sharing it!
May the Lord Bless you today and always.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely. It is always a calming experience, altogether. Thank you for sharing such thoughts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great post Willie! might I add one of my favorites, Ephesians 5:20 Always giving thanks to God the father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Makes perfect sense to me brother. By the way, excellent work on the photos. You’ve surpassed me. Have a blessed and enjoyable weekend.
LikeLiked by 2 people
HaHa . No not even close, You are Still The Man !! But I thank you kindly for Reading, Commenting and for your Kind Words.
I thank you so much again for your help with the photos program. You created a monster in me, Ha Ha.
I hope to do you proud in future post.
Have a Great and Blessed Weekend Brother.
LikeLiked by 2 people
“Christ Lives in me” and “Share with others” are waaaay to cool brother, don’t cut yourself short, the monster is loose lol
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you
LikeLiked by 2 people
Great exhortation on what is required as under grace to please God .
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you so much for Reading and Commenting. I’m glad you found the message meaningful. Your support means a lot to me.
God Bless You today and always.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Amen, and you’re welcome. Likewise all the best to you and your family. 🌸
LikeLiked by 2 people
Amen 🙏🙏
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen 🙌❤️🙏
LikeLiked by 1 person
An excellent interpretation of this biblical passage. Unfortunately, we often come across erroneous interpretations of “sacrifice to God”. Jesus Christ made it clear in just 2 commandments: “Love God above all things” and “Love your neighbor as you love yourself”. Looking at ourselves in this dimension, far from ourselves, from God the creator and from our neighbors. It makes us reflect: Are there greater sacrifices than these? Thank you for sharing a little Light with us! 😇🙏
LikeLiked by 2 people
Great message, Willie.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you so much. Thank you for Reading and Commenting.
To God Be The Glory, Honor and Praise.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Amen!
LikeLiked by 2 people
To reflect your goodness to the world around us. In everything, O Lord, may your name be exalted and your kingdom advance. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We pray all these things in the precious name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen Willie Torres jr You are loved
LikeLiked by 3 people
Amen 🙏 Amen
Thank You for Reading and for your Comment .
May Gos Bless You today and always.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve read the whole book. All heavenly books agree on mercy, justice, and selflessness
LikeLiked by 2 people
Amen 🙏🤗
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen Lord of the Worlds
LikeLiked by 2 people
Amen 🙏🤗
LikeLiked by 1 person
May God bless you, Williy Torres
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank You.
God Bless You and your family
LikeLiked by 1 person
💐👋🏻👍🏻
LikeLiked by 2 people
[…] Willie Torres Jr. This pic is awesome and starts off this post. […]
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank You Brother. I Hope to do you proud
LikeLike
NICE ❤️💜💕
Blessed and Happy afternoon 🌞🌺
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for Reading and Commenting.
God Bless You today and always.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen and Amen, thank you so much for sharing this great word, Blessings to you Willie 🙏
LikeLiked by 2 people
To God Be The Glory
Thank You
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good commentary!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank You for Reading and Commenting.
Be Blessed and Be a Blessing.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I like your last sentence!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Amen
– All Glory to God Brother .
Thank you for Reading . I’m overjoyed by your comment
LikeLiked by 3 people
✝️💚✝️💚
LikeLiked by 4 people
💚💓💖
Blessed and Happy Sunday 🌞
Greetings pk 🌎
David López Moncada
LikeLiked by 2 people
God Bless You Today and Always.
Thank you for Reading and Commenting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🤗♥️
LikeLike
When we stand at the CROSS may we realize HOW WORTHY our LORD is. HE is holy and may we follow in HIS holy footsteps on our paths through life. Thank you for the beautiful pictures in this post! Loved them and oh……..YOU ARE LOVED!
LikeLiked by 4 people
Thank you for Reading and Commenting and for your heartfelt words.
It’s truly humbling to reflect on the worthiness of our Lord and strive to follow in His holy footsteps.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the pictures, I had quit a bit of fun on this post.
God Bless You and Remember that You Are Loved as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Blessings to you this Sunday my friend!
LikeLiked by 1 person