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.

—Parallel verses:
Ephesians‬ ‭2:1-5‬
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Life is full of stories of people who have had near death experiences, or maybe were actually pronounced dead, and yet somehow are still alive. Lazarus was such a man. He was dead for 3+ days before Jesus raised him from the dead. And his influence after his resurrection was so powerful that many came to follow Jesus due to his testimony. It’s like he had a renewed purpose in life. We know this by inference, because the chief priests and Pharisees wanted him dead just like they wanted Jesus dead.

In today’s verse it tells us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices. Some have misinterpreted this verse to mean that we should pummel our bodies into submission to God. Penance comes to mind. But the section before this call is equally clear, we are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices — in view of God’s mercy. We are not to pummel our bodies, but to offer them up as living sacrifices, sacrifices in life that are vibrant and full of joy and vitality. We are to offer up the whole of who we are to God. How? In view of his mercy. In his mercy he provided for our salvation and in his grace he called Jesus to pay the price for our sins and make us whole inside our hearts. His Spirit does this work and it is good!

I look back to where I have come from, in bondage to and deceived by sin. I was proud, angry, arrogant, inconsiderate, self-centered, impulsive, craving evil because it made me feel powerful, loved, or satisfied a desire for revenge — I was a train wreck always waiting for the opportunity to cause damage. Now with God’s grace and mercy I have been reborn. I have died to sin and its lies, and I have been risen up in the righteousness of Jesus! I am alive! It’s like Jesus has resuscitated me spiritually. I am enabled to love as Jesus loved, by his Spirit. And so, I get to live life with A PASSION THAT PROPELS me into action, in God’s timing and according to his will. I am free to be Jesus Christ’s ambassador to the world around me.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you called me out of darkness and off the road to death. I nearly died in my sins, but you resuscitated me! Now I get to live for your glory! Praise your name!