Daily Devotion 11/6/18

Romans 12:1 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.

Unless you really dive into the Old Testament sacrifices, all you’re going to know is that the Israelites sacrificed a lot of animals. But there were different sacrifices for various occasions. One sacrifice was a guilt sacrifice; the other paid for their sins. It was either the animal die as their substitute or they would have to die for their sins. So, they would sacrifice their an animal as a substitute.

Jesus was the ultimate guilt sacrifice. He died on our behalf as our substitute. He died the death we deserved for our sins and because of him our guilt is removed.

There was also a sacrifice known as the fellowship offering. This was an offering of thanks to God for everything that he did for them. This is important as we look at what Paul says. He says, “In view of God’s mercy, offering your bodies as living sacrifices…” Jesus was your guilt offering. He died as the sacrifice for your sins. Now Paul says, “Offer yourself as a thank offering to God.” You no longer offer a dead animal as a substitute. You offer yourself, living, as a constant thank offering to God. This is true and proper worship. Why do we do this? In view of God’s mercy. I offer myself to God for his service and to live for him as a thank offering for everything he’s done. God is with you as you do the same!

Thank you, Lord, for sending Jesus to be the guilt offering for our sin. In his sacrifice, you have forgiven me and brought me into a good relationship with you. I now offer all of me to your service in thanks for what you have so generously done. Amen.