Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria Grace for Living Devotional Wednesday August 2, 2023 TOPIC: LIVING SACRIFICE

 Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria 

Grace for Living Devotional 

Wednesday August 2, 2023

TOPIC: LIVING SACRIFICE

BIBLE READING:

ROMANS 12:1-8

1 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. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.  

KEY VERSE:

“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  

MEDITATION:

A living sacrifice implies deliberately, willingly and consciously laying oneself down for a dedicated service. In other words, a living sacrifice has the capacity to take back or walk away, because it is alive and active. Dead sacrifices are never alive and active, so before God are inconsequential.

 About three years after my graduation from university, I learnt a practical lesson on being a living sacrifice. Just after my one year mandatory national service as a university graduate in Nigeria, I had my eyes on working with a Bank in Lagos, Nigeria. My resume were handed over directly to the Managing Director. At that level, I thought working in the Bank was a done deal. I missed it badly! While I prayed and waited, I attended a church where I served as a volunteer Financial Secretary as there was a need. The church board was so pleased with my committed and dedicated services. I was offered the post of Head of Internal Audit at the Church Headquartes, and paid well above the entry level job I sought for in the Bank. Unknown to me my voluntary sacrifices in the church were noticed and indeed living and recognised by the Church authorities.    

When have you struggled and laboured to offer sacrifices to the Lord that are neither living nor acceptable, yet you continued because of your personal ambition and interests?    

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, never allow me settle for less than your perfect will in life and destiny.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

JOB 30-31, ACTS 26