What is the first and foremost living sacrifice God wants from believers?
God first and foremost desires the living sacrifice of praise: believers' lips continually speaking praise and thanksgiving to Him. This is not an animal sacrifice or blood, but the fruit of the lips, offered all day, every day. Such praise fulfills Romans chapter 12 and moves into other areas of life.
Les explains that this sacrifice is not of an animal or our own blood, but the sacrifice of praise to God continually, the fruit of our lips. He asks what we do with our lips—we speak—and says this is the living sacrifice God is looking for first and foremost. God wants to hear our lips speak praise and thanksgiving to Him all day, every day. Les notes this is the easiest way to fulfill Romans 12, and that a believer offering lips of praise seven days a week will also start accomplishing things for God, working hand in glove. He adds that the living sacrifice should not stop with lips of praise but will move into other areas of life, and it is to be holy, meaning simply set apart.
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.
More Questions
How does God's complete security for believers relate to presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice?
Because God secures believers so completely that nothing can touch them, they are called to present their bodies as a living sacrifice to God.
What does it mean to present your body as a living sacrifice?
Presenting your body as a living sacrifice means simply saying, 'Lord, here am I. Use me.'