Day 25 – You Truly Live When you Sacrifice Yourself – Dane Earl

Romans 12:1

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship” (Romans 12:1). The word sacrifice literally means “to give something up”; therefore, God is saying that we need to give up our desires, wants and needs, and replace them with His.

Sacrifice requires action. Sacrifice requires using your time, skills and knowledge to further God’s kingdom. Why? Because God’s kingdom is about love, and love is an action – not just words. Once you sacrifice and take time to do things for God, it becomes an act of worship. Doing things for God can be as simple as watching TV an hour less each day to spend time with your family or giving up that bad habit. There are two main points that cover the subject of sacrificial worship:
#1 Do everything with excellence and integrity for this is worship to God. Your spiritual act of worship can be how you interact with the world around you. When God, or even a boss, asks you to do something, do it with excellence. If you are at work and someone sees the time and care that is placed into your work, they will be impressed. If this same work attitude continues over time, and you stay diligent, it creates an impression in other peoples minds. They will think, This guy (or gal) always does everything so well. Colossians 3:23 says “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” Every time you “sacrifice” and go the extra mile people see that.

#2 People should know why you are “sacrificing your body.” If you do everything with excellence and to the best of your ability, but people don’t know why, that doesn’t help them or Jesus out. People should know that you love the Lord and that He is the reason you hold yourself to a higher standard. Here are a few practical suggestions to help people know you love Jesus, and that it is His love flowing through you that makes you different:
1. Tell people they are loved by God and by you. This might seem awkward or scary at first, but it is vital in every setting – even the workplace.

2. When someone compliments your work, don’t downplay it but rather thank them and say something like, “I’m glad God gave me the ability.” This gives Him the glory rather than you.

3. Talk to people as if they are Christians. Tell them about the amazing things you read in the Bible that morning. Tell them how God provided for a need you were praying about. Even tell them how you shared Jesus’ love and forgiveness with someone the Lord prompted you to speak with at the grocery or the gym. Bless them in the same way you bless other Christians. You’ll not only show them the source of your excellence, but you’ll make them hungry for Jesus in their own lives.

As you continue to sacrifice yourself and give up your wants to help others; and as you do everything with excellence, people will recognize that something is different about you. And best of all, Jesus sees those sacrifices, and they go up to Him as a fragrant offering of love.

God Bless – and you guys rock!
Dane Earl with Crazy About You Ministries (CAYM)