Living Sacrifice
Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, greetings in the precious name or our Lord Jesus!
In the subject verse (Romans 12:1), the Apostle Paul appeals to all of us to live in a certain way. The way which glorifies the Living God. The Apostle speaks of presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice to the Lord. This is not to be misunderstood or wrongly presented. For this is not some public display of acts or deeds. Neither it is fastings or voluntary self affliction by means of evil and wicked acts. But it is a surrendered life in God. By that we not only mean our soul and body, but also all of the respective faculties of soul and body. Putting God first in everything shall be our natural instinct. The service of God matters more than our personal works.
Spirit vs Flesh
For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
Galatians 5:17 NIV
The Bible says that our body craves what is contrary to the Spirit and the Spirit what is contrary to the body. Therefore it is important that we do not do whatever we want. But shall be lead by the Holy Spirit. When we heed to the Holy Spirit, we shall not lust after the worldly things. The Spirit filled life shall be holy and pleasing in the sight of God.
17. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18. because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.
Romans 14:17-18
Furthermore, as a living sacrifice for our Lord Jesus Christ, we perform a true and proper worship. The kingdom of God is not what the world understands, but it is of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. And to live our lives in the intended way, we need the power of the Holy Spirit through Christ. Therefore, let us seek the Holy Father to bestow upon us a Spirit filled life in the mighty and matchless name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.