Burn Process

Read

Romans 12:1,3 (CSB) Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.

What is it speaking to me?

One type of Old Testament sacrifice was the burnt offering. Anyone who has ever burned anything knows that most fires don't work quickly. The fire consumes the sacrifice over time, bit by bit. It will always consume all of it, but not instantly.

We are sanctified in salvation through the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 10:10), but we are also on a journey of following Jesus and becoming more like Him. That doesn't happen overnight or in a moment. It takes time.

That sanctification is found in sacrifice, one moment at a time and one day at a time, in a million little ways:

- When we show humility instead of exalting ourselves.

- When we act in grace instead of judgment.

- When we love instead of hate.

- When we repent instead of digging in our heels.

- When we reach out instead of holding back.

- When we assume the best instead of the worst.

- When we are kind instead of rude.

- When we live in peace instead of strife.

- When we control our tongue instead of flying off the handle.

- When we speak truth instead of lies.

- When we take responsibility instead of playing the victim.

True worship is simply this, then: Are you willing to be burned?

Are you willing to let the parts of yourself that are not like Jesus be burned away and offered up? It doesn't happen in a moment. It takes time, and it isn't always easy or comfortable. No fire is.

But holiness is on the other side of it, and pleasing God is the result.

Hey, maybe burning it away won't even hurt as much as you think.

What is it saying to you?

• What needs to be burned away in your life?

• Why do you want to hold on to it?

• What do you think comes on the other side of it?

What are we going to do about it?

Think of just one thing today that doesn't show God's character as well as it could in your life. Ask God to give you an opportunity to sacrifice it today.