Read: Romans 12:1

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Reflect:

What does the verse above mean to you? Paul is insisting on nothing less than a single-minded focus on living in a way to honor God. Now, total commitment is not the easiest path. We do come face to face with sacrifice and self-denial. Sometimes we have to renounce things or priorities or relationships.

But what about the positive rewards? Think about the parable of the man who found the buried treasure. Yes, he sold everything. Yes, he sacrificed. But look at what he gained. The treasure was much more valuable than the price he paid.

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field” (Matthew13:44).

To emphasize the point, Jesus told a second parable –

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it” (Matthew 13:45-46).

Respond:

Jesus compared this kind of gain to the Kingdom of Heaven. So our choice to surrender to God in every area of our lives is logical because He wants the best for us.
Our choice is smart because He has already paid the price for us. When we believe this then we may face renunciation of our lives, but it is much more a true reevaluation of our priorities.