the offering

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.

-

There is much written in the scripture about offerings.  The Old Testament presents a history of offerings that begins with Cain and Abel in the early chapters of Genesis and flows through the offerings of Noah upon surviving the flood and returning to land to the Mosaic laws, where God gave detailed commands on sacrifices that were to be performed due to sin, and for other reasons.

-

The sacrifices of the Old Testament foreshadowed the death of Christ upon the Cross, so that we know he was not executed so much as He offered Himself in the place of sinful man....and then rose victoriously to life.

-

But how are we, as believers in Christ, to consider 'offerings'.  Of course we measure out a portion of our income to give back to the Lord's work.  We dedicate some of our time to volunteer work, in church and community.

-

But the offering seems always to be just a portion, albeit a very important portion.  But Romans, chapter 12 tells us that when we live on the far side of bowing before the Cross, all of our lives are now a living sacrifice.  There isn't a thought...there isn't an action...that shouldn't be brought before the Lord in a lifestyle that now recognizes we only live because Christ conquered death.

-

So now we offer it all back, recognizing that our lives are fully intended for His purposes....and this is only right, for He is completing His purpose to establish His kingdom through those He has called out...the church.

-

As the apostle Paul faced the end of his life, looking back, this is how he viewed his life:

2 Timothy 4:6 "For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

-

God did not hold back when He offered His only Son.  Christ did not hold back when He offered His only life.  Paul modeled life, lived as an offering.

-

We are challenged to obey and 'present our bodies as living sacrifices'.

-

blessings,

Rob Smith

-------------------------------------------

"Death is inevitable.  Life is a choice!"

John 11:25

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live."