Will You Be a Living Sacrifice?

And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice. If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
(2 Chronicles 7:12-14)

Will You Be a Living Sacrifice?

The dictionary defines a sacrifice as the giving up of something valuable or important for somebody or something else considered to be of more value or of importance. Are you willing to give yourself away so Jesus can use you?

Paul urged believers to present their bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1–2) and to offer unto God the sacrifices of praise continually, with the fruit of our lips giving thanks unto his name (Hebrews 13:15). When Solomon finished dedicating the temple, the Lord said, “I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.” God chose the temple as a house of sacrifice because He was pleased with it.

When we live holy and set apart from this world, God is pleased with us and chooses us to be a house of sacrifice to Himself. We will only choose to present ourselves as living sacrifices if we truly believe that He is higher and of more value than we are.

• What in your life are you holding back from God?

• How can you make worship and thanksgiving a daily, continual sacrifice?

• What practical step will you take this week to live more set apart for Christ?

Prayer: Lord, help us to offer ourselves to You—body, mind, and spirit.