Rom 12:1 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. Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think [of himself] more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Death is beautiful.

It could be said that in being a living sacrifice unto God would involve a death to the world. That is an incumbency upon us. To be alive in Him and dead to the world. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Christ came Luk 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. I think the intent here is to say that through the sacrifice of the Lamb of God we have gained acceptance with God.

Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition [between us]; Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, [so] making peace; Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: Eph 2:17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

Our reasonable service being a living sacrifice is to... Luk 9:23 And he said to [them] all, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Rom 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Rom 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

Nice thoughts all in all...

(Death was hard for me.... )

When l invite Christ in l've offered up my body.

A basic survival instinct is to avoid death. It is a supernatural thing to die unto self and live unto God and it must occur is stages as respecting sanctification . We die daily...

1Co 15:30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? 1Co 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

sanc·ti·fy /ˈsæŋktəˌfaɪ/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[sangk-tuh-fahy] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation –verb (used with object), -fied, -fy·ing.

1. to make holy; set apart as sacred; consecrate.
2. to purify or free from sin: Sanctify your hearts.
3. to impart religious sanction to; render legitimate or binding: to sanctify a vow.
4. to entitle to reverence or respect.
5. to make productive of or conducive to spiritual blessing.

1Co 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 1Co 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 1Co 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 1Co 6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

OH MY!!!!

It STINKS! It is painful! I've been on the floor wailing because of the crushing and burning. If it isn't hard sometimes- it wouldn't be a sacrifice.

But- the outcome- the result of the death- is beautiful!



AMEN!

To be able to say truthfully, "Your will, Jesus, not mine"... and mean it after the emotions are gone... sigh.

From glory to glory.

Joh 8:27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.

Actually even Jesus came to do the Father's will, so on a technicality we need to acknowledge that fact. It is all about the Father and Jesus was a refelctor of the greater light.

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 26:42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

Luk 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

Joh 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

1Jo 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, [even] in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

Maybe what l'm speaking of is saying yes to the cup... I wonder if people really know how huge that is...

Or if they say "Yes" when things are good.

But when the enemy is standing on your face or holding a nail in his hand are you so sure you said yes?

And are you happy about it? We're slaves. But soon the calf will be released from the stall.

Mat 20:22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. Mat 20:23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but [it shall be given to them] for whom it is prepared of my Father.

The cup includes blessing, but the price is great. Fortunately we do not have to pay that price as it was paid. Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom [are] all things, and by whom [are] all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. Heb 2:11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified [are] all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Heb 2:12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. Heb 2:13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

I suggest we are not to asked to share a cup, but a cross...

Luk 9:23 And he said to [them] all, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Luk 9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. Luk 9:25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? Luk 9:26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and [in his] Father's, and of the holy angels. Luk 9:27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.