I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
— Romans 12:1–2

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
— 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

~~~~~

Sacrificing the Temple
By Jennifer Kane

This body—
bone, breath, and bruises—
is not just mine.
It was never meant
to house pride
or parade beauty
for the world’s applause.

It is sacred space.
Not marble,
not gold-lined,
but chosen—
a temple,
where the Spirit breathes.

Some days
I feel more rubble than holy ground,
more weary than worthy—
yet He remains.
He cleanses,
He dwells,
He calls this place home.

And so—
I climb again
onto the quiet altar
of today.

Not to die once,
but to live surrendered,
again and again.
I offer
the small things:
a kind word,
a closed mouth,
a yielded plan.

I offer
the broken things:
doubt,
fear,
every selfish instinct
I thought I’d outgrown.

Not because I am noble—
but because He is worthy.
He makes the sacrifice living.
He makes the temple holy.
He makes me His.

~~~~~

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

The Christian life is not a life of passive belief—it is a life of active surrender. In Romans 12:1, Paul makes a heartfelt appeal: not to our emotions, but to our will. He says, “I beseech you,” urging us to make a choice in how we live for God—not out of obligation, but in response to His mercies.

Think of all the mercies of God laid out in the book of Romans up ti this point in the letter: we have been justified by faith, adopted into His family, set free from sin’s rule, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and assured of His unfailing love. It is because of these mercies that Paul calls us to present ourselves—our bodies, our whole being—as a living sacrifice.

Unlike the Old Testament sacrifices that died upon the altar, we are called to be living sacrifices—continually offered, wholly available, and set apart for God’s purposes. Our worship isn’t limited to songs or church services. It’s found in daily choices to honor God with our time, our actions, our thoughts, and even our bodies. God doesn’t just want our service—He wants us.

The world will try to press us into its mold, valuing comfort, compromise, and control. But we are not to be conformed to it. Instead, we are to be transformed—from the inside out—by the renewing of our minds through God’s Word and the work of the Holy Spirit. This transformation reveals God’s will: good, acceptable, and perfect.

The call to be a living sacrifice is not only reasonable—it is the only fitting response to the love, grace, and mercy of God.

What are some ways you can offer yourself as a living sacrifice today?
Where in your life are you tempted to conform to the world’s standards?
How are you renewing your mind through God’s Word?

~~~~~

Father God, in view of Your great mercy, I offer myself to You today. Help me to live as a living sacrifice—holy and pleasing to You. Renew my mind by Your Word and transform my heart, that I may walk in Your will and glorify You in all I do. In you name Jesus I pray, amen.

May 27 2025