“I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. This is your spiritual act of worship.” Romans 12:1 (NIV)
Offering our bodies as living sacrifices means living out life as an act of worship in all things. We were created in God’s own image for His pleasure to carry out His work. We are to look after all the things He created, including our own bodies. When we align our actions with His will, we are participating in worship.
In 2nd Peter, we are given instructions regarding how to keep busy — living out holy and godly lives in anticipation of His return (2 Peter 6:11-12). Although our earthly bodies are temporary hosts of our spirits, they have an important role. They give us life in this world and allow us to do God’s work and spread the Good News. We have an obligation to do all of our work to the best of our abilities because we serve the Lord (Colossians 3:23). As we maintain our bodies, we are not only benefitting our physical health, but we are living out a good testimony to honor God’s commands in all areas of our lives.
It’s important to note that while physical fitness is important in maximizing our body’s effectiveness, it should never come at the cost of sacrificing our spiritual well-being. We should be training ourselves to be godly above all else, as it benefits our present and our future (1 Timothy 4:7-8).
How do your views on physical fitness align with today’s scripture in Romans 12:1? What does offering your body as a living sacrifice mean to you?