AUGUST 13, 2016

“Sacrifice is a part of life. It's supposed to be. It's not something to regret. It's something to aspire to.” 
― Mitch Albom, The Five People You Meet in Heaven

PSALM 96-98

The Psalmist praises the creator of all things...

10Let those who love the Lord hate evil,

for he guards the lives of his faithful ones

and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

11Light shines^a on the righteous

and joy on the upright in heart.

12Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous,

and praise his holy name. (97:10-12)

ROMANS 12

Paul gets to the heart and soul of the Christian life...

1Therefore, 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. 2Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

JOURNAL 

Living sacrifice...this is really putting it on the line. This line lays it out completely. That this is the true way to worship God. Not by lip service or just showing up at church or tithing 10%. To dedicate my entire being...mind, body and spirit in obedience and service to God.  Paul further clarifies that this means to not conform to the ways of the world. By doing this he says we will then know what God's will truly is for our lives. 

Later in the chapter he goes on to state that this then leads the believer to love

 9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

This is a chapter I could read every day of my life...it really lays out what being a believer is all about, what it looks like and what the motivation and purpose of each person. Paul goes on to also state that each of us have gifts and if we are to live as living sacrifices then we are to use those gifts. Yet I think the only way of determining what those are is when we fully surrender to God. 

23Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?
- LUKE 9:23-25