By: Pastor Jarren Rogers

“He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” – Jim Elliot

One of my favorite actors is Daniel Day-Lewis. When he plays a character, he makes you believe that he really is that person. But that kind of talent doesn’t come without cost.

Lewis always makes sacrifices in order to commit himself to a role. In 1989, during the production of the My Left Foot, Lewis spent most of his time in a wheelchair because the person he was playing was a quadriplegic. He had crew members push him around and spoon-feed him between takes. Lewis even damaged two ribs from sitting too long.

For his part in The Last of the Mohicans, Lewis spent a period of six months in the wilderness. He learned to live off the land, fish, and even skin animals. During the filming of Gangs of New York, Lewis caught pneumonia after refusing to wear a coat because had wanted to harden himself to the cold weather.

Lewis won the Academy Award for best actor for one of these roles but it didn’t come easy. He had to sacrifice his time, his body, and his comfort.

When people looked at Lewis on screen, they were convinced that he really was the person he was portraying because of the sacrifices he made.

We are called to do the same. We are called to present ourselves as a living sacrifice to God.

“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” (Romans 12:1).

Just like when people saw Lewis and how well he portrayed his character on screen, when people look at you will they see the person that you represent? Will they see Christ? Will they see the sacrifice you made to God because of the sacrifice that Christ made for you?

To sacrifice our whole selves and be set apart from the rest of the world. It means we allow the Holy Spirit to completely transform us and renew our minds so that His will can be revealed in our lives.

It doesn’t mean that it is easy. It doesn’t mean that it is quick.

It takes sacrifice. But because of all that God has done for us, all His many mercies, and His great love.

It’s the least we can do.

Parents: Read your children this verse from Romans. Ask them if they know what it means. Explain what it means to live a life that is sacrificed to God.