February 8

Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. — Rom 12:1 BSB

A Christian man once quoted this verse, encouraging his listeners to present their bodies as a living sacrifice to God. When he finished, a friend beside him said, “John, next time you quote that verse, make sure to include the last words.”

“Didn’t I quote it all?” the man asked.

“No, you left out the last part, ‘which is your reasonable service.’ That’s important.”

The old Quaker was right. We need to quote the whole verse. It’s not unreasonable for God to ask us to present ourselves to Him as a living sacrifice.

God is our Father, and we are His children. Is it unreasonable for a child to be asked to do their Father’s will?

We can think of our redemption, remembering the tremendous cost at which Christ bought us, and all the blessings and hopes we have because of His sacrifice. Is it unreasonable to be asked to dedicate our lives to God in response?

We can also consider what will happen if we don’t yield ourselves to God—our lives will be lost in the darkness of sin. But if we give ourselves to Him, we gain eternal life and blessedness. Is it unreasonable for God to ask this of us?