LIVING SACRIFICES Devotion 9 of 24 I cannot leave this section without making one additional observation. Where the people of God are not constantly reminded of the "mercies of God," it is not likely that "living sacrifices" will be made. Constant diets of Law, external disciplines, entertainment, social and domestic issues, and the likes, will not produce a God-glorifying harvest. When the church becomes the focus, living sacrifices are diminished. When the family becomes the center of attention, living sacrifices to God are no longer the issue. When Law is the thrust, what is given to God is rarely seen in a personal way. – Tomorrow:
The people of God must wisely and consistently be given a regular diet of grace and mercy. The Gospel of Christ, which is the supreme carrier of these Divine bestowments, must be at the heart of preaching and teaching. Nothing should be allowed to move us at such a distance from the Gospel we are no longer inclined to declare it. No matter how deplorable the condition into which professed believers have fallen, some word of grace and Gospel must be given to them.
We have the church at Ephesus as an excellent example. They had the commendable trait of demanding that the truth be spoken. Jesus commended them because they could "not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars, and hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted." Notwithstanding, He had something against them. "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love." What do you say to a church that has "forsaken" their first love – who simply do not love the Lord as they once did? Here is what the Lord Jesus told them. After calling them to repentance, lest He remove their church, He said, "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God" (Rev 2:1-7).
Jesus spoke to the church at Pergamos. While they had some commendable qualities, the Lord had a few things against them, "because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate." What do you say to a church like that? Jesus warned them to repent, or He would come and fight against them. Then He held out this marvelous promise. "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it" (Rev 2:12-17).
The church in Thyatira was also addressed by the Savior. He commended them for many of their works, especially because they were more at the last than at the first. But, alas, Jesus had some serious things against this productive church. "Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols." He had even given this false prophetess space to repent, and she did not. Now the Lord would judge her harshly, and all the churches would know He searches the inmost parts all the churches, giving them according to their works. Yet, the Lord holds out a Gospel promise to this sinfully tolerant church. "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star" (Rev 2:18-28).
And then, there was the dead church in Sardis. They had a reputation for being lively, but Jesus said they were "dead." What sort of word do you give to a dead church? There certainly are plenty of them around. The Lord told them to strengthen the few things that remained, which were ready to die. He urged them to repent, or He would come on them unexpectedly, taking away the paltry remnants that remained there. Then He held out a Gospel morsel for them. "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels" (Rev 3:1-5).
Who can forget the church at Laodicea? Here was a church about which the Lord said nothing good. They were lukewarm, and He was about ready to spew them out of His mouth. They said they were rich and needed nothing. Jesus said they were poor and needed everything. He urged them to repent, and obtain spiritual supplies from Him so they could correct their condition. Then He held out a glowing promise. "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne" (Rev 3:14-21).
In all of these cases, the Lord is urging faulty people to correct their condition "by the mercies of God." Those promises He held out to Ephesus, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, and Laodicea were all "by the mercies of God." None of those churches deserved such promises, but He gave them anyway. They were designed to awaken the spiritual life that was about to fade away. It was Jesus' way of not breaking a bruised reed or quenching a smoking flax (Matt 12:20).
"The mercies of God" are not only held out to those who are retreating into carnality, they are also held out to those who are being called higher, to deeper and more extensive involvement with God. The sacrifice our text requires of us demands a rich supply of Divine mercy. That is precisely why it reads, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, BY THE MERCIES OF GOD, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God."
PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank You for the abundance of your mercies. In the name of Jesus, grant me to see the multitude and effectiveness of them more clearly, that I may present my body a living sacrifice to You.