Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the Mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Yesterday, we discussed how God tested Abraham by commanding him to offer up his son, Isaac, as a burnt offering. Abraham passed the test because he was willing to do what God had commanded him. Then God stepped in and provided another sacrifice for Abraham to offer up on the Altar.
God wants us to surrender everything we have to Him. He gave His Best (Jesus) so we can have Abundant Life on Earth and Everlasting Life in Heaven with Him. He gave it all so we can have it all. We, in turn, are to give our all to Him.
The Apostle Paul found this to be reasonable and it should sound reasonable to us. If we REALLY understand and believe in the Sacrifice God made for us, we will be more than happy to surrender everything to Him. The question is: What is included in “everything?”
Everything means all; nothing excluded or omitted. This goes far and beyond material goods and assets. God commanded Abraham to give up his most prized possession, his son, Isaac. His son meant more to him than anything. He had waited 100 years to have a son. All that time Abraham believed God would grant him a son, and He finally did. Then, God said, give him back to me.
You see, Isaac never belonged to Abraham. He was God’s Creation and Abraham was merely his earthly father. God had a Plan for Isaac that Abraham knew nothing about. It took great faith on Abraham’s part to offer up his son to God, but he did it. Why? Because he knew God would keep His Promise. He believed God would not go back on His Word.
Do you believe that today? What is God asking you to give up? First of all, God will ask you for you; all of you. Paul said it like this: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the Mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. (Romans 12:1)
Over the years, I have learned that we cannot out-give God. The more we give, the more we will have to give. God keeps His Promises. Jesus said, Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you. (Luke 6:38) God spoke these Words through Jesus and He meant it. Again, God keeps His Promises; all of them.
Abraham was willing to give his son and God Blessed him by making him a father to nations. To live for God is to totally trust Him and His every Word. To live for God is to give your all to Him. That means everything; nothing held back and nothing omitted. He is worthy of it all so give it all to Him. It’s all His anyway. When we decrease, He will increase. When we give, He will give us back more; much more. Believe that today.
Fully Trust God and He will……….turn the tide……….in your life.
He is worthy of it all, Doreen
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