I appeal to you therefore, brothers by the mercies of God to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1 (ESV)
Thomas Hawkes was born in Essex, England and later entered into the service of the Lord of Oxford. Upon the death of Edward VI, rather than change his religious beliefs to that of Queen Mary’s, Hawkes left his service and returned home. After returning home Hawkes’ wife gave birth to a son. Hawkes refused to have the boy baptized according to Catholic tradition and was reported to the Earl of Oxford. The earl sent Hawkes to Bishop Bonner of London where he answered to the charge of contempt of the sacraments. On February 9, 1555 he was condemned as a heretic.
Days before Hawkes was to be burned at the stake he agreed with his friends that he would lift his hands over his head if the pain was tolerable and his mind was at peace. When he was engulfed in flames and most people thought him to be dead, Hawkes suddenly raised his burning hands above his head and clapped three times. Those who understood this gesture broke into shouts of praise and applause as Thomas Hawkes sank into the fire and died.
The animals used in the Old Testament sacrifices surrendered any will they might have had of their own to the will of their masters. When it came time for the fire to consume them they didn’t object because they were already dead. The same applies to a true worshiper of God; however, this sacrifice is alive. A true worshiper offers himself to the master as a holy and acceptable living sacrifice. He is dead to his own will but alive and submitted to the will of his master.
Jesus said, Greater love has no one than this that someone lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13) The ultimate expression of love is the giving of one’s life for another. Laying down of one’s life for another is the relinquishing of the right to have one’s needs met in order to meet the needs of another (Philippians 2:4). Jesus Christ is the purest example of this “greater love.” Out of obedience to the Father he laid down his life for us of his own accord that we might be reconciled to God (John 10:17-18; 2 Corinthians 5:18; Colossians 1:22).
Paul wrote, Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) As true God worshipers we have no life of our own. We have been bought with a price. We have died to the right to have our needs met in order to do the will of our Creator. We do not exist for us but for our Maker (Revelation 4:11). A living sacrifice has at its core the greatest commandment: To love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30). It is our reasonable worship.
Have you surrendered your will to the will of the Father? Do you love the Father with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength?
Scriptures for meditation:
1 Samuel 15:22
Psalm 51:17
Philippians 4:18
Hebrews 13:15-16