A Living Sacrifice

1 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.2 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.

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:1-21 KJV)

Paul is calling his readers to give themselves, soul and body, to God as a living, dynamic sacrifice. Chinese evangelist and martyr Watchman Nee (1903-1972) points out that Paul had called for individuals to give their bodies over to righteousness in chapter 6; here he is calling them into a unity of sacrifice as one body.

It is a call to us for a united step of faith, the presenting of our bodies as one 'living sacrifice' unto God. This is something that goes beyond the merely individual, for it implies contribution to a whole. The 'presenting' is personal but the sacrifice is corporate; it is one sacrifice. Intelligent service to God is one service. We need never feel our contribution is not needed, for if it contributes to the service, God is satisfied. And it is through this kind of service that we prove [what is the 'good, pleasing and perfect will' of God] (v. 2), or, in other words, realize God's eternal purpose in Christ Jesus.

Evangelical theologian R. Scott Rodin explains how this sacrificial unity is lived out.
This lifestyle and therefore this worship is characterized by a 'oneness.' We serve one Lord, we are citizens of one kingdom, and we offer one service as stewards. We have renounced shared lordship, dual citizenship and divided service. As such our live have a determined sense about them! We have a sense of confidence that gives way to compassion and sacrificial service without ever losing that determination and certitude. This sense of freedom and purpose is also our worship. It bears witness to the steward who has been set free to render one service in one kingdom to one Lord.
Our spiritual acts of worship are also embodied and concrete. Rodin continues:

As this worship is Trinitarian, focused, and manifested in all aspects of our lives, it is also worship at all four levels of our existence. We worship God in our stewardship of our relationship to God. We worship and glorify God in the self-love that is the love of one created by God. We worship and glorify God in our selfless service to our neighbor. And we worship and glorify God in our care of creation. Worship happens in the local church, in the home, in the workplace, and in the community. Worship happens in cleaning up a stretch of highway, taking meals to shut-ins, caring for our health and gathering together on Sunday in our churches!Worship happens when leaders of Christian institutions seek to make God-pleasing decisions about the use of funds entrusted to them for ministry.