“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1-2
Living Sacrifice
In the Old Testament, a burnt offering involved the whole being consumed by fire. Every part of the offering was burnt in sacred fire, all totally consumed. Today we may call this “all in” (a poker term) or completely committed to living our lives in obedience to the Lord.
In 2 Samuel 24, King David had sinned against the Lord in arrogance by counting the people of the land. In his repentance, the Lord gave him three choices. Seven years of famine, three months of enemy pursuit or three days of a severe plague. I was drawn to this passage while praying for wisdom because of the world’s current virus or plague.
David chose the third choice: “Please let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man” (2 Samuel 24:14). So the Lord sent a plague on the land and when the “angel of the Lord stretched out His hand over Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD relented from destruction and said to the angel, ‘Enough!’ Now restrain your hand” (2 Samuel 24:16).The angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah that David bought. David offered a burnt offering and a peace offering at this place, saying, “May the sin be upon me and my family.” (Note: his family line is the line of Jesus Christ.) The plague stopped. This place was Mt. Moriah, where Solomon later built the temple, close to where our precious Lord Jesus gave His life for our sins and ended our plague of eternal death.
As we pray for our nation and world concerning the virus that is plaguing us, may we ask the Lord to search our hearts and each consider personally His resolve.
During this time my “go to” comforts, like Macy’s, are closed. Restaurants are closed. People are walking around afraid to be near each other. I believe this is my personal call back to deeper commitment. I have gotten sloppy in my walk.
May this be our prayer: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:24).
Dear Father in Heaven, please have mercy on us as we humble ourselves, seeking Your face and turning from our wicked ways, that we would hear from heaven and You will forgive our sin and heal our land. We give You our “burnt offering” and “peace offering”, looking to You and praising You, our Almighty, sovereign and worthy Lord who created us for such a time as this. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Amen. I’ve been praying daily for a global awakening; that Godly men would stand up and be a witness of God. I’m thankful that our President does this. I’m praying for him and our world; praying that this pandemic would end.
So beautifully written and deeply profound as it pertains to Who God is and that He is in control of all things…..’such a time as this’…..taking me back to our study of Esther at LCC….God Bless You all….