WEEK 9 – DAY 4

ACCEPTABLE OFFERING

The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts. Proverbs 17:3

And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Malachi 3:3

We are the offering to the Lord. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). In order to be an acceptable offering, we must be purified. Jesus cleanses us from sin when we surrender to Him. However, we still commit sins which affect our daily relationship with the Father. We are eternally saved the moment we receive the gift of God’s grace, but we are also continually being saved, being conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29), which is called sanctification. We will be totally freed from sin only in our resurrected bodies. The method the Holy Spirit uses to sanctify us is sometimes as painful as being put in a crucible to have the dross melted away. We are sanctified, made more like Jesus, through the various trials we face in life. As we weather the storms of life trusting in Jesus, we are made purer and stronger. As we submit to the Father in all things, we become that acceptable, living sacrifice offered up to Him daily. As the old hymn asks, “Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid?” (Elisha A. Hoffman, 1900).

Father, help us to recognize trials as Your means of conforming us to the image of Your Son. Help us always to seek and obey Your will in the middle of our most trying times. Help us to sacrifice our own wills daily and not try to squirm off the altar.