We are the Living Sacrifice.

 We Are the Living Sacrifice

We are the living sacrifice—not slain upon a stone,

But breathing,walking altars, for His glory made His own.

Not a one-time offering of a life now stilled and spent,

But a constant,conscious yielding, a daily, glad assent.

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. (Romans 12:1)

Here, these hands—no longer clenched in selfish toil or strife,

But lifted,open, ready for the purposes of life.

Let them serve,and build, and comfort, as instruments of grace,

Extending Your own mercy in this time and in this place.

Here, these feet—no longer chasing after emptiness and wind,

But planted on the Rock,and to Your call forever pinned.

Let them walk the path of kindness,let them carry peace and news,

Let them stand upon Your promises,and in Your ways not lose.

Here, this mind—no longer captive to the world’s decaying thought,

But by Your truth renewed,and with Your holy wisdom fraught.

Let it dwell on what is noble,let it ponder what is true,

Let it be transformed completely,shaped and fashioned now by You.

Here, this will—the inner throne where I have fought to reign and reign,

I now surrender fully;come, O Christ, and take the chain.

Let Your will be my desire,let Your pleasure be my food,

Let this living sacrifice be found in You,both holy and renewed.

The fire that falls upon us is the Spirit’s burning zeal,

Not to consume to ashes,but to perfect, cleanse, and seal.

It is the holy flame of love,of purpose, and of praise,

That marks us as His own throughout our ordinary days.

We are the living sacrifice.

Not dead, but fully, freely alive in You.

Our every breath an offering, our every act a prayer.

Take us, break us, fill us, send us—holy, pleasing, Yours.

Amen.

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The Sacrifice That Is Alive

This declaration transforms the ancient concept of sacrifice:

· The Altar is Alive: In the Old Covenant, sacrifices were killed. In the New, we are called to be living sacrifices (Romans 12:1), meaning our entire, ongoing life is the offering.

· The Motivation is Mercy: We offer ourselves not to earn favor, but in view of God's mercy—as a response to the grace already received through Christ.

· The Means is Transformation: This worship happens through the renewal of our minds, aligning our thoughts with God's truth and will (Romans 12:2).

· The Manifestation is Bodily: It involves our physical bodies—our tangible actions, time, and resources—presented to God for His holy use.

To say "we are the living sacrifice" is to acknowledge that true worship is no longer confined to a temple ritual but is the continuous offering of our whole selves in everyday obedience and love.