"I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present yourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable, for this is your reasonable service."

This is how I memorized this passage as a child. Sacrifice, reasonable service, holiness - all worked together to make me acceptable. Not very exciting, not encouraging independent thinking or attitudes. Much more the sheep than a lion.

I have rebelled against this concept all my life in ways both obvious and subtle. I am not enamored with being the sheep. I like the lion, but have come to think that the lion is likely the easiest route for a selfish person. When I am on the highway, it would take much more effort and discipline to drive like a sheep rather than a lion. A selfish person sees the world as his to take and other's to give.

But Jesus was the sheep - the Lamb of Life. What I have learned from Him is that He wasn't a sheep because He was born a sheep. Instead He chose to become the Lamb of the World by choice.

This choice took the courage of a Lion and the endurance of a champion. He, the Lion of Judah, showed His strength by His choice. The sheep was not looked on with any admiration at all until the moment spoken of in Revelation when the Lamb is shown as the only being who was worthy. Sacrifice, holiness and reasonable service. May I understand where my true strength really exists.