Romans 12:1 exhorts, “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.”
The opening chapters of Romans (1-11) unveil a breathtaking panorama of God’s gracious redemptive plan. The magnificent display of divine benevolence that gives us His great salvation compels a response. Gratitude alone is insufficient. The apostle Paul insists that consecration, the total surrender of our lives to God, is the only fitting response.
Paul’s directive in Romans 12:1 is clear: we are to “present” our “bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God”. He also says it is our “reasonable service”, or proper spiritual worship. The Greek word for “present”, which is “paristemi”, conveys ideas such as “stand by”, “offer yourself”, “yield something”, or “place something at one’s disposal”. To “present your bodies” means to make yourself available and ready for God’s use.
There is a misconception among some that salvation solely concerns the soul, leaving the body free for worldly pursuits. This is a dangerous oversimplification. Our physical existence is an integral part of our being, and as such, it must also be dedicated to God. A life divided between spiritual devotion and worldly indulgence is contradictory. True consecration demands the surrender of our entire being, both body and soul.
This sacred offering includes every part of our bodies —eyes, ears, hands, feet, etc. Are our eyes focused on what honours God, or are they consumed by worldly distractions? Do our eyes see things that are not godly in the mobile phone you hold in your hands? Do our ears listen to music and conversations that uplift the soul, or are they polluted by harmful influences? Are our bodies adorned in a manner that reflects our identity as God’s children, or are they clothed in immodest apparel? And where do our steps lead us — towards a life of holiness or a path of compromise and sin?
Paul urges us to “present your bodies a living sacrifice”. In the Old Testament, animal sacrifices involved slaughtering the animal and placing its lifeless body on the altar. Today, we are called to present ourselves as living sacrifices on the altar of God’s service. Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross grants us salvation and renewed life in Him to serve God. Our lives are redeemed to live as an offering to God’s glory.
Have you dedicated your body solely to God? You should desire that your body be used exclusively for the Lord’s glory and His divine will. We should not lift a finger unless it is for the Lord’s glory. Whenever you allow your body to be used outside of God’s will, you are effectively yielding it to an ungodly thought or person, or the world, or the devil. So, let our mouths offer praises and thanksgiving, our hands generously support God’s work, our legs follow where He leads, our eyes study the Scriptures and delve into His Word, and our ears listen to His teachings and godly music. By doing such things, we present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and surrendered to God.
A Testimony by Tan Yeh Wen
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).
A few weeks have passed since the end of the Missionary Conference, but it has allowed me time to reflect on the events that took place. It would be inappropriate of me to withhold mentioning the incredible testimony from the Lord that no human could orchestrate.
When Pr Cornelius first proposed the idea of having a Cantata for the Missionary Conference, I was thrilled. I knew there would be challenges, but given how God had sustained my family through previous experiences, I was thrilled at the opportunity to serve Him!
Once the plan was confirmed, all involved put in much effort, but the process wasn’t without its challenges. Yocheved and Hua See fell ill at different times, leading to Hua See missing some of the practice sessions.
Furthermore, our initial plan to provide the combined choir with a new set of scores was unexpectedly thwarted. To make matters worse, Yocheved developed Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease (HFMD) the week before church camp. The situation mirrored the challenges we faced in December 2023, when COVID affected my family while we were involved in the Youth Choir’s Christmas Carols presentation in the Philippines. Fear began to creep into my heart. Nevertheless, with the support and prayers of our fellow brethren, though after much internal struggle, I decided to attend the Missionary Conference with my family, taking all necessary precautions to avoid contact with others. I am grateful to everyone who helped make arrangements so that we could be there and listen to the messages.
While there, I had hoped that Yocheved’s illness would resolve quickly, so our whole family could share the Lord’s goodness with the brethren. However, on Tuesday evening, I was also diagnosed with HFMD. To ensure everyone’s safety, I chose not to attend the Missionary Conference meetings, and isolated myself completely from all other participants.
How disheartening it was to be plunged into despair after being so hopeful! Were all my efforts in vain? The situation felt overwhelming and distressing, and I struggled against murmurs of complaint taking hold of me. Thankfully, God helped me resist those feelings. How could I question God’s providential plan? Here is an excerpt from a message I sent to my fellow conductors: “As I worked leading up to this missionary conference, I had to arrange the piece ‘God Moves in a Mysterious Way.’ Truly, God’s ways are mysterious, and this time of ‘dark’ providence is no exception…”
The following day, Rev. Donald dela Cruz’s message deeply resonated with me, providing much-needed clarity on the situation. Here is a summary of a message I shared with the choir: “…John 3:30 – ‘He must increase, but I must decrease.’ Like Paul, my heart prayed for God to remove my afflictions from me if He be pleased. Like Paul, God has answered me, not as I intended, but in His way… Let God take all glory in my sufferings (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:9).”
Through his message, I was led to understand three key points: 1) God might be using me as an example to those who would face similar challenges as mine; 2) to glory in God alone and not seek personal exaltation; 3) the ultimate reward is that God is magnified, above all else. I found peace when I finally grasped what God intended to accomplish through me! In the light of this, my absence from performing and the anticipated joy of presenting music seemed insignificant, compared to the glory God has revealed. Indeed, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me” (Psalm 103:1)!
I eagerly watched the choir’s webcast, filled with peace from the hotel room. Their performance was admirable. Indeed, the hymns, “I’d Rather Have Jesus” and “Hymn of Dedication and Service”, resonated deeply with me – causing me to question if I’d truly served for God’s glory or personal acclaim. As a full-time worker, should I seek comfort or relentless service? I pray for a heart of joyful surrender, always remembering His glory. Whenever I am tempted to murmur or complain about my service to Him, may I be reminded that I should joyfully surrender to His gracious and wonderful will!