Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
In the Jewish traditional sacrifice, one was expected to present the sacrifice in person. It was to be a male and without blemish. It was not supposed to have any defects or sickly. Once on the altar, the offeree was supposed to identity with the sacrifice by laying his hands on it . Everything was then reduced to ashes and nothing was left.
The writer of the book of Romans urges all believers, by the mercies of God, to present their bodies as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God, which is their reasonable service. This was radically different from the dead offerings of the Jewish religion . It was a passionate call to believers to commit their entire being to God.
We are not only supposed to be consecrated to God but we are also supposed to be available to be used by him for his purposes. We are exhorted to give ourselves up in the spirit of sacrifice as the whole burnt offering was ; no part being devoted to any other use. We are no longer supposed to have any claim of ourselves. Pleasing God should be our highest aim.
Further readings:
Deu 15:21
Rom 6:13
1Co 6:20
🙏 Blessed Day 🙏