Consecrated and grateful
For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen. And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 11:36-12:2
From the text, Paul speaks of total consecration to God. A believer that recognizes “everything comes from Him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory” must be willing to totally commit oneself to God. This is the only means where we could be transformed into which that will please and glorify Him. Once we become grateful to all the things we have including our salvation, we will honor God with everything we have. This is what the Lord Jesus Christ talked about when He told His disciples of a parable that pertain to the Kingdom of God. The wise believer will value relationship with God and His kingdom over all things. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field” (Matthew 13:44). Once we consecrate our lives to God, our thoughts and attitudes should be a reflection of the life God called us to live by. We have to act on the truth we have received making those biblical principles the foundation of our Christian walk. We have received a great salvation by the mercies of God and the proper response is a life offered to Him and to which as Paul said God “will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.” Our priorities change and we start to pursue the things that will bless and glorify God. We become careful on how we live our lives for we know that the enemy is always looking for the opportunity to trip us. “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days” (Ephesians 5:15-16). God redeemed us from a life in bondage to sin to a life of freedom where we could be the person He wants us to be. He rescued us and He deserves that we offer ourselves to Him as expression of our worship. Let us therefore “offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name” (Hebrews 13:15).
Blessings,
Noel De Guzman
www.my-wbc.com
