A Living Sacrifice

In this life we are to be made into the image of Christ. This prepares us for the eternal life with him in glory. Several of my friends from our MPJ Bible and Prayer Fellowship have gone ahead to Jesus.

Rom 12:1 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.

Romans 12:1 and 2  are very important verses and should be put to memory. Our Christian walk is one of service, first we must be willing to put to death the old nature. It is only possible by his mercies and by his Holy Spirit. We are to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and separated unto God. We cannot sacrifice an unclean sacrifice, we must live a clean and pure life to be a sacrifice. We offer ourselves and ask the LORD to remove anything that offends. Changing our behavior is necessary to live a holy life, an acceptable life and if we are His people we will not desire to sin.

Mat 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

We are to die to our sin nature and walk in the Spirit of God.

Rom 12:2 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.

Be not conformed to this world and it's ungodly ways. How can you openly live in sin, the standard of the world, and be living for God? Jesus must be our Lord and master; we serve him doing what is the good, acceptable and perfect will of God. We cannot do this if we seek our own lusts and desires. We are to serve the master and he gives to us all spiritual blessings.

James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Transformed is the same word used to describe Jesus in His transfiguration (Mark 9:2-3); it is a glorious transformation that happens to us! Reading God's word, meditating on it and seeking the face of God is how we renew our minds. (See Phil 4:8)

That ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

His will works in us for his good pleasure.

Phil 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Phil 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

2 Th 1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
2 Th 1:12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Is Christ Jesus glorified in your life, or do we seek for personal honor and glory? We serve God and he rewards us if we serve him well. The greatest shall be servant of all.

Mat 23:11  But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
Mat 23:12  And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

We are no longer our own, we are adopted son's serving the master with devotion, thanksgiving and gratitude.

 Eaglewings Ministries

Testimony of Albert Melrose

Feet

An artist has painted a picture of Jesus washing a disciples feet. At first Peter refused to have Jesus serve him in this lowly way. But, it was an important lesson for him and for those who would follow Jesus as their master. The example was to show them that they were to be servants. I also see the foot washing as being symbolic of our need to be washed daily in the water of the word of God and in our asking for forgiveness for any new sins.

John13:7  Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 

John13:8  Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 

John13:9  Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 

John13:10  Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. 

Joh 13:11  For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. 

John13:12  So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 

Joh 13:13  Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 

John13:14  If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. 

John13:15  For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 

1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

A dear elderly widow has a pair of new shoes. They are very bright and colorful. She had worked in our church garden faithfully even in the hot summer sun. This was a way to serve that she enjoyed. Later on she suffered a small stroke and spent some time in a convalescent home, but now she is back in church. A mother of the church with a heart of gold.

Tit 2:3  The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 

Tit 2:4  That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 

Tit 2:5  To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. 

This may sound foolish but I was praying in the darkness of the church sanctuary and I saw two spots of lights  at the back of the room coming from the sky light. In the dark I stood in these beams of light as an example of the word of God speaking of walking in the light.

Psa 56:10  In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word. 

Psa 56:11  In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. 

Psa 56:12  Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee. 

Psa 56:13  For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?

Psa 119:105  Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. 

John 8:12  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. 

1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 

Rom 10:15  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 

Eaglewings Ministries

Turning again to the way

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 

I took a wrong turn in the car three different times today. I had to backtrack and get on the right way again. The last time made me a few minutes late for our rest home service. What a wonderful group of people were there waiting for us. They truly enjoy our time together as do we. The Lord is there; as one friend said, this is as the gates of hell or of heaven, a last chance to make a decision. We have the opportunity to point them towards Jesus and everlasting life. They hear us each week giving them the way.  We all were lost at one time, heading the wrong way. It just took correction, turning or repentance and accepting Jesus as the way to the Father. By loving them, by worshiping together we point the way. Maybe some have never heard the gospel message? They are given an opportunity before stepping into eternity. Lord save our rest home friends.

Act 2:36  Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 

Act 2:37  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 

Act 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

Act 2:39  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 

Spinning

The Holy Spirit works in the people of God to do many things for his glory. Often work is done in secret to benefit others. The LORD used skilled hands to build his temple and the LORD is still using gifted hands for his glory.

Exo 35:25  And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen.
Exo 35:26  And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats' hair.
Exo 35:27  And the rulers brought onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate;
Exo 35:28  And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.
Exo 35:29  The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.
Exo 35:30  And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the LORD hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah;
Exo 35:31  And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;
Exo 35:32  And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
Exo 35:33  And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work.

My wife weaves beautiful things from colored yarn to give to others. Who can put a value on service for the LORD, but the LORD himself? Keep your hands busy and your mind meditating on his word. All to Jesus I surrender all.

? All to Jesus I Surrender - YouTube