Present Your Bodies a Living Sacrifice

What does it mean when we are to present our bodies a living sacrifice unto God?

This morning I was reading Ezekiel 43. This is a chapter that is part of an extended section describing the sanctuary. The one on earth was modeled after the one in heaven. This chapter discusses about how the animal brought in was to be without blemish. This means, it had to be physically perfect, without any defects.

This animal was to represent Christ in His sinless state as the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world.

As I thought of this requirement for making a sacrifice, I thought of Romans 12:1-2.

“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.”

Then from there, I jumped to 1 Cor 3:16-17.

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”

Then jump over to chapter 6:19-20.

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.“

Our bodies today are altered by sin greatly. We could not present a physically perfect body. But we can present a body in as good of condition as we can make it, with God’s help.

I teach about natural healing methods often. I have talked to hundreds of people over the years who have been sick, but who do not want to change anything that made them sick. They want ‘healing,’ but not the stuff that requires healing.

I’ve shared my own story of recovery before. I believe that the reason I’ve enjoyed such a massive restoration of health is that I’ve been trying to follow God’s health laws, as well as His moral laws.

As I do this, God blesses my efforts.

There are other verses in the Bible that ties in restored health to walking in obedience.

When we choose to allow appetite to rule us, following the counterfeit method of health rather than God’s health laws, we are unable to fulfill God’s purpose for us. When our minds are cloudy because we choose not to eat in a brain-healthy way, then we cannot think clearly or remember well. When our bodies are in constant pain (I’ve been there, I know how this feels.) because we refuse to change our lifestyle habits that led to the chronic ill health, then we are unable to function well enough to do the job God wants us to do.

This can have eternal implications.

We do not know which people may be lost because we chose not to walk in obedience, but rather allowed appetite to control us. It’s something to think about. We do not want to stand before God and tell Him that we could not fulfill His purpose for our lives because we loved our food too much to eat in a healthy manner. We could not give up meat, cheese, candy, pizza, etc, because it tasted way too good. Who cares if it is part of what is making us sick? ‘I want what I want and I want it now.’

Adam and Eve lost paradise because of appetite. Jesus gave us an example in the wilderness of how we can control that appetite. By depending on Him.

I know how it is. I’ve been there. I also know the results of walking in obedience to God’s health laws. From someone who was almost completely dysfunctional, mentally and physically, to now living almost completely free of chronic Lyme disease symptoms, I can promise you that it works. If you want it bad enough, if you are willing to do whatever it takes….

If you wish to learn more on how to walk in obedience to God’s moral and health laws, please contact me.

Something to think about.