You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
Most religions have a common theme: sacrifice yourself for your god and your god will reward you. But true followers of Jesus do not think like that because it is not true to the Bible. Yes, we do understand that we are not to live for ourselves, and that sacrifice is an essential part of our discipleship ... but not in order to gain God's approval. We are already accepted by Him when we believe in Jesus Christ and receive His mercy. This new relationship is a privilege, freely given and gladly accepted: nothing we do can add to our security in God.
However, in the same way that children need to be taught how to respond to parental love, learn to please their parents and how to take a responsible place in the family, so do Christians. So Paul urges those who have been saved by the precious blood of Christ (who gave everything for them), to re-orientate their lifestyle. Instead of being self-pleasing, they were to be God-worshipping. But their worship was not to be restricted to church meetings. Every part of their lives should show that they belonged to Jesus, by living as He did - sacrificially pleasing Father God.
It is easy to talk about being holy and pleasing God, but our old nature keeps calling us back into self-centred thinking and living. That is why believers need to ask, "How can I best live sacrificially, like Jesus, in this situation?" Then we have to do it! Always, the instinct of our flesh will try to find 'what is in it for me', but the Holy Spirit will be urging, 'what is in it for Jesus' reputation?' That battle is so strong that the Apostle has to urge the believers in Rome to serve rather than be served by others; to work hard rather than slack off; to give rather than receive, as an expression of God's love to others. None of this is easy, but it is the proper way to express our relationship with God who has given us a free pardon for all our sins although at great cost to Christ. Put simply, sacrifice is an essential part of the normal Christian life: anything less is ungrateful disobedience.
Prayer: Merciful God. I want to thank You for saving me: thank You for the precious blood of Christ which has paid for my sins and made me fit for Your presence. I am sorry that I keep putting my interests before Yours. I am sorry for enjoying worship services in church but being a hypocrite because I refuse to sacrifice my time, energy and money in Your service. Please help me to understand the importance and urgency of changing my pattern of life so that it will become a holy and pleasing thank-offering to You, because You have been so merciful to me. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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