Freedom isn’t free. Jesus taught that true freedom in Christ comes through submission. Paul echoes this teaching in Romans 12 when he pleads, “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.”
What does it look like to present yourself in full submission before the Lord and to walk out life as a living sacrifice? What is it that you’re sacrificing, exactly? When you come before the Lord with humility and open hands to say “yes” before you know what He is going to ask, you have become what He is asking for.
This sacrifice of sorts isn’t the same as the blood sacrifice of rams and bulls in the OT. This is a sacrifice of our control, our human desires, our flesh. It is a daily removing of our old “self” by our own will. It is allowing the Lord to clothe us with the things He has prepared for us. It’s walking with a humble “yes” to the unknown because we trust Him enough.
To be really honest, this is something I struggle with. It’s hard. It looks hard even on paper so to live it is an even bigger challenge.
What about when surrendering yourself seems bigger than your abilities? Or when it feels like one step above physically dying? I think sometimes it’s a thousand times worse than death. Death holds a finality. To choose to live in total surrender requires courage. Many times it requires facing your fears and choosing to submit to the possibility of failure. Surrender is vulnerable.
So what does this living fleshly sacrifice entail, exactly?
Paul says it nicely in 1 Corinthians 9:19,22-23 “Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible…I have become all things to all people so that by all means possible I might save some. I do this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”
In 2 Corinthians 13:5 he encourages the believers to “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.”
Philippians 4:4-8 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Colossians 4:2-6 “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
And perhaps the most meat-filled instruction of all: Hebrews 13:1-19 “Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so. We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat. The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.”
All of this scripture gives examples of what it means to live a life of sacrifice or surrender. Something a speaker once said that has stuck with me is this, “Stop calling a sacrifice something that is a privilege.”
Mic drop.
None of these things are too much of the Lord to ask. And yet here we are. Here I am. Complaining about the guidelines He has given me that are truly the keys to an abundant life. How often do I complain about something that’s meant to be a blessing?
There are many points that can be taken away from this blog, but the one that the Lord has been pounding into my heart recently is submission. Specifically to His will. It hurts. I’ve started by saying yes to what I don’t want to do and praying to God (literally) that He will somehow change my willingness to also feel that “yes.”
It’s a process and the road is long, but there is hope to what Paul says in Philippians 4:12 “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”
You thought I typed the verse wrong, didn’t you? So often we hear Phil 4:13 without the context Paul meant it in. He learned to be content through Him who gives us all strength. And so am I. Learning to rely on His strength and putting my “self” aside in submission so that by Him alone I would be content.
