Giving Self to God:

Acceptable Sacrifice

James Meadows

          “Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgressions, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6: 6-8)

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

            A gospel preacher relates the story of an Indian chief who came to him, offering his belt of wampum that he might win divine favor. “No,” said the preacher, “Christ cannot accept such a sacrifice.” The Indian departed but returned immediately with his guns and the skins of animals he had taken in hunting. “No,” was the reply, “Christ cannot accept such an offering.” Again the chief went away, but soon returned once again with a troubled heart, and offered his wigwam, wife, child, everything, for pardon and peace. “No,” was still the reply.  “Christ cannot accept such a sacrifice.” The chief seemed surprised for a moment; then lifting up tearful eyes said, “Here, Lord, take poor Indian, too.” That present was accepted, and the chief went home full of gladness.

            Completely giving of self is essential to being acceptable to God. Jesus said, “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33). The Macedonian Christians gave liberally to the Lord because they “first gave their own selves to the Lord” (2 Cor. 8:5). Paul said, “present your bodies a living sacrifice.” Present it in humble obedience to God’s will. Our eyes, ears, tongue, hands, and feet must be presented in their entirety to the Lord as a “living (continual) sacrifice.”