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| Photo by Andre Scarrio from Morguefile.com |
- Abraham left family and homeland in obedience to God.
- Elisha left his family, his work, and his home to go with Elijah and serve God. 1 Kings 19
- Peter and Andrew dropped their nets, left their father, and went with Jesus to learn from Him.
- Likewise, James and John left family and life-long occupations to follow Jesus and serve God.
- Paul left his religious order and his family to answer the call of Christ on his life.
God’s call always requires us to give our all. What that may
necessitate will be different in the details for you than it has been for me,
but in every case it demands a heart willing to do, to go, to say, to share, to
think and to give up EVERYTHING for Jesus.
Romans 12:1-2
So then,
my friends, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer
yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing
to him. This is the true worship that you should offer. 2 Do not conform
yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly
by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of
God—what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.
Over the years God’s call on my own life has varied. When
Dick and I first entered pastoral ministry, God’s call took away close proximity
to family, the dream of owning our own home, and a substantial income as an
employee of the state.
When God called me to rely on Jesus’ death on the cross for
my sins, I had to swallow hard and give up trusting in my own efforts as a means
to please God and earn a place a Heaven.
Looking back over the many years since the day I placed my
trust in Jesus reveals a constant need for re-dedication and further
purification of my attitudes, my words, and my actions. I have had to continue
to place myself in the purifying flame of God’s presence in order for God to
temper and shape me after His will.
While offering ourselves totally to God does require sacrifice, knowing His will--what is good, perfect, and pleasing to Him--is worth any personal cost.
While offering ourselves totally to God does require sacrifice, knowing His will--what is good, perfect, and pleasing to Him--is worth any personal cost.
What has offering your life as a “living sacrifice” involved
for you? I would love to hear your story! J
Blessings!
Pam©2014 Pamela D. Williams
