“I beseech you therefore, brethren by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God which is your reasonable service” Romans 12:1
“There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before the assembly of Isreal with the women, the little ones and the strangers who were living among the.” Joshua 8:35
Let’s start with Joshua 8:35. If you read the chapter in its entirety, you will learn that Joshua was commanded to seize Ai. He had a direct command/direction from the Lord of how to conquer this city. The first of which is “do not be afraid or dismayed, take all the people of war with you and go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the King of Ai, his people, his city, and his hand.” It goes on from there with the Lord giving Joshua a battle plan to execute and conquer this city. What does this beginning have to do with the vs 35, the last verse of this chapter which is above?
If we keep reading through this chapter, we see that Joshua executed the Lord’s plan as directed and prevailed in taking Ai. Joshua stayed strong, didn’t quit, didn’t draw back his hand. Just as Joshua took Jericho by following God’s battle plan. He had done the same in conquering the city of Ai. After capturing Ai, what was the first thing that Joshua did? He built an alter to the Lord, giving offerings and wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses. HE BUILT AN ALTER my friends!!! After battling all day, being tired, sore, exhausted, emotionally drained, He took time to honor the Lord an built an altar. He was honoring God for what God did for him that day, fulfilling His promise and blessing him (Joshua) and his army.
Have you ever been so tired, that you couldn’t do anything more, been so physically worn out moving another muscle took more energy than you felt like you could muster, being so exhausted that more than anything you just wanted to lay down, or so emotionally drained you couldn’t pour out anymore. Sometimes this is the place we need to be to give, to build an altar to the Lord. To thank Him that we have our life and another day to live, to thank Him for our bodies and the abilities we have with them, to thank Him for the bed that we get to lay down in and that no matter how drained, we can always pour into Him, because He is the one that fills us up.
Joshua was honoring God when he built that altar, offering a living sacrifice, a burnt offering that was holy and acceptable. Honoring God through this reasonable service. Joshua wrote out AND read aloud God’s law to the people- not just with the men, but with the women, little ones and the strangers that were among them. For these words were for all the people. He didn’t hurry home, He and his men and those gathered there recognized the importance of who the battle belonged to from the beginning and understood the importance of honoring God’s word, His law and the glory that came from following through with God’s command. It was to remember and commemorate this blessing- for that’s what altars were for. They were to tell the story of how God gloried in that place. We are all welcome at the Lord’s alter at His living sacrifice.
So, my friends, what is our way to honor God as Joshua did? Exactly what Romans 12:1 tells us to do “I beseech you therefore, brethren by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God which is your reasonable service.” Even when we don’t have anything left in us, that is the perfect time to come and build an altar, to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, to empty ourselves before Him, so He can lift us up. Therefore, I ask you my dear friends, how are you presenting yourself before the Lord today?
Dear Lord- I know I am far from perfect, and I can only come boldy before your throne through the blood of your son, the living sacrifice that died for me and my sin. Lord, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the blessings in my life, for giving me loving family and friends, for providing for daily needs for allowing me to work and provide for my family through your providence. There are so many things and I fail at following your battle plan, unlike Joshua, I have gotten tired and quit, I have put my head down and not continued when I should have, losing sight of You. Lord I lay myself before you a living sacrifice. Through Jesus blood, can I be made holy and acceptable in Your presence. This is my reasonable service, to come to You and ask for forgiveness, to show thanks for all the blessings, to gain strength when I am weak and to be filled with Your love and Holy Spirit when I am all poured out. Lord I ask that you help me fix my eyes on You and to follow Your battle plan through the rest of my days.
In Jesus Precious Name. AMEN!
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