Living Sacrifice (Leviticus 22)

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Say to them, ‘Throughout the generations to come, if any of your descendants is ceremonially unclean and yet comes near the sacred offerings that the Israelites consecrate to the Lord, that person must be cut off from my presence. I am the Lord. (Leviticus 22:3, NIV)

Leviticus 22 outlines the regulations for offering sacrifices to God. The sacrifice must be without blemish, and the person offering it must also be ceremonially clean. If the sacrifice or the person offering it is impure in any way, it will not be accepted by God, and that person will be cut off from His presence.

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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. (Romans 12:1, NIV)

Paul boldly challenges us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice that is pleasing to God.

As a sinner, how can I offer myself as a holy mountain sacrifice to God, since I am full of sin and impurity? We need not worry about this. The "self" that we offer is no longer our own. Our body belongs to Christ, and Christ is our head, and our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, belonging to God.

Therefore, offering ourselves as a living sacrifice to the Lord is not something to be proud of. We are merely returning what rightfully belongs to God. Even if we were to burn our bodies for the Lord, it would not be a source of pride or a heroic tale.

The only thing we should be proud of is the abundant grace of God the Father, who did not spare His own Son for us sinners, but poured out His Holy Spirit upon us.

Today, I must hold onto the truth that my entire life belongs to the Triune God, and I must praise and thank Him with my whole heart.

<Application>

I had some administrative errands to take care of this morning and visited the South Korean consulate in downtown. As I walked around the streets where I had spent three months last summer, I couldn't help but feel the touch of God's guiding hand on my life thus far, like a gentle breeze passing by. I will continue to hope, pray, and look forward to what God will accomplish in this place in the future.

<Prayer>

Dear Lord, I thank you for the grace you have given me, sacrificing yourself as a holy sacrifice for a wretched sinner. I am grateful that the Triune God has paid such an enormous price to redeem and possess me. I realize that the word "dedication" I offer to you is too extravagant. Dedication is what you have done for me, not what I do for you. I realize that what I need to do is to obey you, to return my life to you, the rightful owner. Today, I marvel at the amazing grace of being "the Lord's possession" and praise you with all my heart. May this be a day of gratitude and praise in Jesus' name. Amen!

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