Bible Study

Title: The Sacrificed Life
Date: Sep 12, 2005
Topic(s): Discipline
Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

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In January of 1998, ballet's radiant empress, Alexandra Danilova, died at 93. Born in Russia and orphaned at the age of three, Danilova fell in love with the stage. She began performing at the age of eight. At the Ballet Russes in the 1920s and '30s, she soared as Odette in SwanLake and sizzled as the street dancer in Le Beau Danube. As a teacher at the School of American Ballet, she inspired generations of dancers. "I sacrificed marriage, children and country to be a ballerina," she wrote, "and there was never any misunderstanding on my part: I knew the price."

To do anything of significance and do it well, there is always a price. Christianity is no exception. The Bible makes that very clear.

What Does God Say?

The apostle Paul writes in Romans 12:1-2:
"And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice--the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is" (NLT).

• How does Paul describe this sacrificed life?
• The word "holy" means "set apart for special use." Draw a picture (stick figures are fine) of something special that God might want to use you for.
• How does God feel about this kind of a sacrifice?
• When we choose to live like this, what will we "know"?

My Thoughts

Someone once said that the problem with a living sacrifice is that it keeps wanting to crawl off the altar. Take an object (a cup, a paperweight, etc.) and let that object represent an altar. Take another object (a pen, pencil, etc.) and let that represent you. Take the object that represents you and place it in relationship to the altar. Is it on the altar? Is it near the altar? Is it far from the altar?

My Part

If you are not on the altar, what needs to change to put yourself there? Is there something you must do? Is there something that you must stop doing? If you are not sure, prayerfully ask the Lord to show you what might be keeping you from living the sacrificed life.

Additional Scripture to read: Philippians 3:7-8; Mark 10:29-30

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