“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." Rom. 12:1.
I can boldly tell you that one of the secrets of greatness is sacrifice. When you learn the power behind sacrifice you become a high flyer. Nothing worthwhile and enduring is achieved in life without sacrifice. It takes sacrifice to love, sacrifice to give, sacrifice to forgive and sacrifice to become all you have dreamt of becoming. You will notice that in our text, the key word is "living sacrifice." One is compelled to say which sacrifice is a dead one, which sacrifice is acceptable and which sacrifice is an abomination before God. Don't forget by the way, God had respect for the offering and sacrifice of Abel, but rejected that of Cain. When you dig deep you will discover to your amazement that, motive was behind why God accepted Abel and rejected Cain.
When your motive is right, your sacrifice will be right. When your motive is warped, your sacrifice becomes an abomination before the Lord. God is not asking for your gold and silver. In fact, the bible says "The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts" Hag. 2:8. Psalm. 50:10, 12 says "Indeed, every animal of the forest is mine, even the cattle on a thousand hills. “If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is mine along with everything in it." God clearly says I am not beggerly. I am the creator of all things. If God is hungry, we will be too small to feed him. What then is sacrifice, it is the value you place on God that costs you something.
Some sacrifices are indeed dead. They are borne out of selfishness and self centeredness. God can not be bought with money. He that comes to God must know and believe that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. Sacrifice is part of your diligence in doing the will of God. You must not serve God in the manner that cost you nothing. Never serve him for selfishness, never serve God with the intention of hood winking him to bless you at all cost. God is all seeing and all knowing nothing is hidden before his eyes. What is secret to man is open to him. You will do yourself good by being committed to giving God your all with good intentions, because it will come back in good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over in Jesus name.
FURTHER READING:
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." Ps. 51:17.
"Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice." Ps. 141:2.
DECLARATION:
Dear Abba Father, thank You for your grace and mercy. Indeed I'm the product of Your faithfulness. By Your grace I go over every wall, by Your strength I win every battle. By Your faithfulness my mountain stands strong by the power in the name of Jesus nothing shall be Impossible with me. I declare today that I have been given a portion amongst the great, my cup runs over in Jesus name, amen.
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Phil. 1:1-25.
Heb. 1:1-14.
Heb. 2:1-18.
QUOTE FOR THE DAY:
"When Serving God Is Your Greatest Desire, Blessing You Becomes His Greatest Commitment."
