The Whole ChurchПримерок

OFFERING OURSELVES TO GOD

She has this. You do that. He said something to me. In today’s culture, many of us think in these terms—focusing less on our communities and emphasizing the individual. We can become disconnected from one another as we focus on our immediate needs and pleasures—including our need to be right. But Christians have a different journey in the family of God. We get to join together in the daily work of reorienting our lives around our Savior.

Being in community like this might even feel countercultural but doing so is an important part of our witness in the world. And it’s what Paul meant when he encouraged us to come together in “one spirit, with one mind striving side by side” (Phil.1:27)—in worship, service, and sacrifice. 

As the body of Christ, we have the opportunity to take whatever things we receive from God and immediately offer them back to Him in thanks. Whether it’s our work, relationships, possessions, or selves, the challenge is to present our lives to Him with open hearts and open hands.

What does it mean to offer not just ourselves but our communities to the Lord? Think about what it looks like to worship and sacrifice side by side. How do we relinquish our own desires and invite God to do what He wants with us—making us into something that reflects His creativity and will?

In the Old Testament, we see God’s people offering things important to them as a sign of their dedication and commitment to Him. Sacrifices took many forms, but they all involved letting go of earthly comforts and possessions. In fact, the word sacrifice comes from a Latin term that means “to offer something” or “surrender something for another.” And the same word in Hebrew means “to bring something near”­—in this case, to an altar or to the Lord. Today, we still have opportunities to bring our lives to God, daily drawing closer to Him.

Just as we gather in our local congregations to worship, pray, and support the church, we’re called to come together and serve in our own neighborhoods. This might mean being more hospitable, caring for the vulnerable in our community, or advocating for the voiceless. Whatever form our involvement takes, even ordinary actions and interactions can be an offering to God.

When we follow the example of Christ—the One who surrendered everything for the glory of His Father—we’re able to join God in fulfilling His plan for our lives. We obediently serve and give of ourselves. And in return, we find freedom in a life filled with His love, mercy, and heavenly promise.

Digging Deeper

• Christians don’t make offerings at the temple as the people of the Old Testament did, but we must still try to draw closer to God. Is there anything the Lord is calling you to change or give up, perhaps for the good of another person?
• Try to describe what it means to be a living sacrifice. How would you explain this command to someone who struggles with the idea?
• How do we honor Jesus with our lives—especially in the way we carry ourselves and interact with others?

Prayer

Father, I’m so thankful for the precious and merciful gift of Christ’s sacrifice. I pray the renewing work You’re doing within me will show on the outside and demonstrate that You’re my greatest treasure. And if You’re calling me to offer something to You that I’m holding back, I humbly ask that You reveal it to me and draw me closer to You. Help me to follow Jesus’ example and offer myself as a living sacrifice in everything I do. Amen.