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Let us not
give up meeting together…
let us encourage
one another-
and all the
more as you
see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:25 |
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A LIVING SACRIFICE
June 5, 2008
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,
that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
~Romans 12:1 KJV
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In Old Testament times, God required the Israelites to
sacrifice a spotless lamb on the alter as part of worship and to
atone for their sins. To sacrifice means to give up something of
value. They had to give something of great value -- their best
lamb. They would then lay their hands on the animal’s head to
symbolically transfer their sins to the “innocent” lamb. The
lamb would then be placed on the alter of fire. Two thousand
years ago, Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God, sacrificed His life
on the alter for the sins of all mankind. He became a living
sacrifice…In Romans 12 above, Paul asked Christians to present their bodies (their lives) as a living sacrifice. Some Christians today lay their lives on the alter only to roll off when the fire gets too hot. They would rather hold onto the things of the flesh than spend time in the presence of God. For it is in His presence that the holy fire reveals the things of the flesh. God sacrificed His best for us, yet we hold onto the flesh that is of no value.
Have you ever asked God to set you on fire for Jesus? If so, then expect His holy fire to set your heart ablaze. The burning flesh of bitterness, coveting, envy, fear, jealousy and unforgiveness is a sweet aroma to the Lord. The more you allow Him to burn up the flesh; the fire of holiness will then heal the broken places in your heart. This holy fire produces a light that reflects righteousness and peace. Paul states that presenting our lives on the alter is our reasonable act of worship.
True worshippers spend time at the alter. They voluntarily lay their lives on the alter and give God permission to search their hearts and minds. They ask Him to burn up what is not pleasing to Him. God is looking for true worshippers. He is beseeching us to daily lay our lives, our hearts on the alter as a living sacrifice. Just like Christ was raised from the dead, we will rise from the ashes as holy and acceptable to God. Are you holding things in your heart that are not pleasing to God and are of no value? Have you laid your heart on the alter today?
Prayer:
Father, forgive me for not spending time with you at the alter. I choose today to lay my heart and mind before You. I give you permission to burn up what is not pleasing to You. Set me on fire for Jesus, and burn up this flesh of mine so that I may be a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing unto you.
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