My last devotion spoke of the power of self-sacrifice, especially that of Jesus. Today I want to focus on following the example of Christ.

Self-sacrifice is the way of the Lord. In response to what God has done for you in Christ Jesus, you are called to thank the Lord for his goodness, using your bodies to serve Him in your life situation—as mothers and fathers, as children, spouses, pastors, laypeople, accountants, secretaries, teachers and retired folk. God uses these bodies He has given us, He wants you to be His instruments in sharing His love. Self-sacrifice is at the center of genuine love, the kind of love Jesus showed in laying down His life, and the kind of love you are called to show others.

After Paul tells us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices to Jesus, he reminds us that we are able to do this because Jesus changes everything, including us.

Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

You need to let yourself be changed, transformed, to be more and more like Jesus. It is to be an ongoing process in the lives of disciples, but it is not always readily embraced.

I would guess that most of the time we are not comfortable with change, especially if we feel it has been forced upon us. But how often do we rebel against and complain about change before we have even considered that the change might have a purpose and actually be a good thing?

How many people are you reaching with the Gospel message? Are you reaching your own children, your family members? What can you do, how can you use your talents and abilities, what sacrifice do you need to make for the sake of Jesus?

What can you do in your home with the gifts God has given you? What can you do in your neighborhood with the gifts God has given you? What can you do at your place of business with the gifts God has given you?

Before you quickly say, “Oh, I can’t do anything!” ask yourself is it that you can’t or that you won’t. All too often let the idea of sacrifice or giving something up keeps us from doing what God would have us do. When you avoid doing what God wants you to do, not only is that a disappointment, but it deprives you of the joy to be found in serving God.

…offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God– this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:1-2)

This transformation, this life-changing power of self-sacrifice cannot be understood apart from the context of Christ’s sacrifice. God spoke of this through Paul in his letter to the church in Philippi:

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:3–11).

…offer your bodies (your lives, your selves) as living sacrifices,… be transformed…