A Contribution or A Sacrifice? - The X Factor Devotional - Day Thirty Five - February 26, 2010

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Romans 12:1-2

Did you hear the story of the chicken and the pig who were walking together down the road?  They came upon a beggar who was nearly starved to death.  He hadn’t eaten in days.  The chicken and the pig decided to help him.  The chicken said,  “I have an idea.  Let’s fix him some breakfast - some ham and eggs!”  The pig thought about that a moment and then said,  “I don’t like that idea very much because it only requires you to make a contribution, but for me it is a complete sacrifice!”

As the Apostle Paul writes, he describes a turning point in his letter to the believers in Rome.  He is finally giving an application to the truths he has been telling about in previous chapters.  He is stating how we should respond to the knowledge God has procured our salvation and saved us from the wages of sin through Jesus Christ.  He’s telling us to lay it all on the altar for God; surrender completely.  Don’t simply make a contribution like the chicken, but sacrifice it all like the pig.

Prayer Focus: Pray Impact is a body of believers willing to totally surrender to God.  Pray it all starts with you.  What does it look like to surrender all?  What might you need to sacrifice?