Romans 12:l   Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.

Romans 12:l   Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.

                Behold the Lamb that was slain.  Jesus was the sacrifice of God!  Sacrifices die.  They bleed.  However, in the verse above, Paul is referring to a different kind of sacrifice.  He wants you to be a living sacrifice.  Your body continues to live, but you live as a dead man.  You are to have no will but the will of God–no mind but the mind of Christ–no emotions but the love of God that blesses and does not curse.

                `Your sacrifice is to be offered up to God for the benefit of mankind.  You go to your job for the profit of those you serve, not for your own gain.  You are a servant, and you are there to serve the needs of others. You don’t get angry about being asked to work.  That is why you have the job.  Let all that you do and say be done for the glory of God.

                As we serve our fellow man, we are to be prepared to give an answer—a soft answer (Proverbs 15:1). A soft answer allows you to turn an unreasonable foe into a friend.   As you sacrifice your right to be respected and treated correctly, your right to answer back defensively or any other right you may feel you have, you will gain the self-control necessary to represent Christ with a “soft answer”.  “Soft answers” can bring the unreasonable parent, student or coworker back to being reasonable and able to hear what you are saying.  An apology may follow, but do not expect one as your “right”.  You must forgive their outburst regardless of their willingness to deal with issues in a mature fashion.  You are the professional; strive to always respond professionally and like Christ—as a living sacrifice acceptable unto God.

Dear God, This is a hard thing that you ask of me.  I do not like to be mistreated; in fact, it makes me angry.  Give me the ability to understand your ways of dealing with personal attack.  Teach me to be more like you.  And when attack comes, please come to my aid quickly.  Give me the soft answer that will bring the situation back into control.  God, I really need your help on this one.