Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”
Hebrews 10:5-7 ESV
I’ve thought much about purpose over the past months and as we move into a New Year, I continue to be mindful of pressing into purpose. The Apostle Paul purposed to leave behind all things that could hinder pursuit of his upward call in Christ and so, we too, journey into this New Year with a press in our pursuit of His purposes.
We see from our passage today the understanding we all must hold, found in the words of Jesus Christ. Andrew Murray writes there are two necessary, foundational, principles found in The Word that we must embrace: ‘a body you have prepared for me’ and ‘I have come to do your will O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’
Every day our lives hold purpose, and as long as we are drawing breathe there is opportunity to achieve it. As we live by the understanding that we have been bought with a price, and so are no longer our own, we can begin to present our bodies as a living sacrifice. (1 Cor. 6:19; Rms.12:1.) Without this understanding we struggle to embrace the humility necessary to submit our will. Yet it was Jesus’ willingness to present his body that provided us sanctification, (Hebrews 10:10).
We should all live with this same kind of press unto purpose. Not our own spiritual ‘to do’ lists but those that we have discovered through the same process Jesus has shown us. When he declared “Behold I have come to do your will O God,” he found daily opportunity to be tempted into his own way and will. His submission, in all ways, was in alignment with what had been written in the scroll of the book. This makes me mindful of the days that have been written for us, (Psalm 139:16).
Jesus’ own words following the presentation of His body to submit to the will of our Father was His way of life. His separation to this was seen in all of his acts of obedience. We learn through his prayer, taught to his disciples, the preeminence of pursuing His will. We intimately see his agony of soul in the garden as he wrestles with his will.
As we begin 2026 I realize again how important ‘presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1), becomes, not only for the sake of others but the ordained good works of our life hanging on the willingness of our yielded obedience. In the yielding to His purpose, we find His blessings.
May it be said by all of us ~ You have given me a body to offer, look, I have come to do your will o God.