Offering All!

Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. ROMANS 12:1 AMP

The charge by Paul in this passage goes out again today to all of us: present your bodies as a living sacrifice to God. It is a personal decision, an "I" decision, not a "we" decision. I will be the one to decide that I will give my all to God. I can't be saved simply because I believe someone else's experience or testimony of salvation; I must take the step to accept the gift that has been offered.

I must offer my life to God; he will not force himself on me. A central theme about God's identity is seen in the passage where God stands "at the door of your heart and knocks". Imagine the creator of the life seeking permission to enter into the heart of his creation.

A living sacrifice is dead, yet alive. It is dead to all things that God disapproves and alive to those things that please God. If I have offered my life to God in truth, then I live for the pleasure of my owner, not my own self. I cannot claim to know and follow God, yet I am living for my own pleasure and purpose. I cannot offer God a part of my life and keep a part to myself; I either give him all or nothing. Halfhearted devotion is more dangerous than no devotion at all.

As I set out today, I must keep at the back of my mind the essence of worship: it is not an act, usually done on Sundays or during mid - week services, but a daily consistent lifestyle. It is not a product of the lips first of all; it is a product of the heart. Where do you stand? Have you accepted him as Lord? Is he in control or you are? Eternity rests on your truthful response. His time of favour is here.