TEMPLES OF THE LORD
“Therefore, 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.” Romans 12:1 NIV
A few years ago I read a book by renowned evangelist Derek Prince and here is what he said concerning offering our bodies as a living sacrifice: “To offer your body to God in this way means that you no longer claim ownership or control of it. You no longer decide where it is to go, what it is to eat or wear, or what kind of service it is to perform. All that is now decided by the One to whom you have yielded complete and final control.”
A lot of times this scripture throws many off, causes a form of rebellion and disdain because it seems rigid, but that is only for the unregenerate mind that has not yet fully grasped the revelation of what was done at the cross.
Many of you that have been in the world before can testify to God’s gentleness if religion is not what got you here. The convictions about what you wear, who you hang around, what you eat or do don’t come instantly when you confess Christ as Lord and savior. In most cases it takes time until your heart begins to gradually be uneasy and respond.
Modesty is a revelation, otherwise it is a conformity to religious rules and sooner or later anything that is not rooted in the love and reverence you carry in your heart for God, will revert back to default. The same is for abstinence, refusing to feed all forms of perversions and distortions that are plaguing our generation. So is abstaining from foul language, you can’t just wake up and stop cussing or any addiction unless by the power of the resurrecting power of God in you.
Ministers, teach individuals into truth and let the word perfect its work in them. Don’t hold a gavel of judgement over their heads when God himself is patient enough for repentance to settle. Parents, don’t try to change your grown children for by that you will only frustrate them and yourself — instead, pray for them and bear fruit toward them.
And for us the family of believers, let us love the sinner, but never miss an opportunity to shun the sin and educate with great patience and instruction. In all things, let us look to bear fruit that lift Christ’s name high as He draws men to himself. Praise the Lord.
Prayer: Father thank you for this wisdom. Fill our hearts with great patience and our tongues with gracious speech that promotes instruction. Make our eyes as of eagles that we may see far and wide, calling out the things which are not as though they are in the lives of those entrusted to us in Jesus name, Amen!
CI.
