Our self nature will be the greatest obstacle to overcome as we seek the plan of God. We will never fulfill the plan of God if it is allowed to stay on the throne of our lives.
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
We cannot be selfish and be living sacrifices. The two are totally incompatible. To become a sacrifice requires a complete surrender to the will of God. This will not happen overnight.
There are many Christians who serve God with hypocritical motives. They want to be seen and crave acknowledgement from pastors and fellow congregants. This is not an example of what it means to become a living sacrifice.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
1 Corinthians 3:11-15
God is going to set a match to our works. Everything we have done from selfish motives will be burned up. Each one of us need to be asking what will be left when the fire goes out. Are we going to have a pile of ashes or gold, silver, and precious stones? The latter will not be present if we not allowed ourselves to become living sacrifices.
Becoming a living sacrifice will require us to examine our motives and actions. This is not an easy examination and the majority of us will initially receive a failing grade.
Yielding ourselves to the Holy Spirit in complete surrender is not easy. Our flesh nature will fight. It knows it cannot survive if we do not pull back but continue to press in and seek God.
There are many people who live separated lives that externally look holy. This does not mean they have become living sacrifices. The motive behind our actions is more important than what we are doing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:3
Our works do not matter if our heart is not pure before God. Becoming a living sacrifice will mean a total death to the self nature. This is not something that happens overnight. It will require us to humble ourselves day after day.
If you are wondering whether or not you have allowed yourself to become a living sacrifice you haven’t. When you have, you will know it!
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