“Holy Burden” - Theology Bites
“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. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” (Romans 12:1-8)
There is so much in this passage, but I want to focus on “living sacrifice” and what Paul means by that phrase. I think of it as a “holy burden” sometimes. We could consider these phrases to be negative or positive depending on our attitude and faith (for me, that changes regularly!). I think this is what Paul was trying to teach the new believers in Rome and us today.
To put it in my own human, western-thought terms, each part of my body serves a purpose for the whole; each providing a certain “sacrifice” or “burden”. My legs and feet bear the entire weight of my body but serve to carry me forward. My back is truly the core from which everything is supported. My brain is the control center. My heart has a physical function, but more importantly, its spiritual function is connected to the Spirit of God. Each part plays a role; each part sacrifices in its own way, but each part serves to support the whole, without which the whole body would suffer greatly or even die.
When we submit to God and offer our hearts to Christ, we become a living sacrifice and willingly take on a holy burden – because of Love. We become one part of the Body of Christ, each serving its appointed role growing His Kingdom. We do it willingly; even if it’s difficult. We can understand this in human terms. A mother and father understand this burden or sacrifice when caring for their child. They take it on willingly out of love. Our heavenly Father has also sacrificed out of love and we must be obedient to do the same for Him and each other. One day we will all stand before the Almighty God and give account of how we used our God-given gifts on earth.
“A sacrifice to be real, must cost, must hurt and must empty ourselves. Give yourself fully to God. He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in His love than in your weakness.” -Mother Teresa of Calcutta
“Lord, help me accept my Holy Burdens and Sacrifices that you have commissioned me with enthusiasm and joy – even when it’s difficult and scary.”
Tonya Noren
September 25, 2022