SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Romans 12:1-2
1 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. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
MORE LESSON: Hebrews 13:15-16, Philippians 2:17
15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Philippians 2:17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
Wednesday, 1 October
Memory Verse: Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and trust the Lord. Psalm 4:5
In every altar encounter in the Scripture, one key element was always present—the sacrifice. An altar without a sacrifice will remain inactive; the offering activates the altar. In Romans 12:1, Paul urges that: ...by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. We are not called to offer bulls or goats. but to present ourselves as living sacrifices. How do we lay our lives on the altar in a way that pleases God and invites His fire? In Romans 12:1 Paul appeal is both tender and firm: I beseech you... True sacrifice must be voluntary; God will never force you to surrender. However, He waits for it, and He is moved by it. The sacrifice God seeks is not just in moments of worship but also in our daily choices—choosing obedience over comfort, holiness over compromise and service over selfishness.
To understand the power of sacrifice, learn the patriarchs. Whenever Abraham built an altar, he laid something on it—a lamb, a ram and his son Isaac. That was an act of obedience, trust, love, and surrender. In that moment of ultimate sacrifice, God revealed Himself to Abraham as Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides.
Today, God is still looking for hearts that will lay down their “Isaacs”—things that matter most to you or which that compete for His place in your life. It could be ambition, relationships, comfort or even self-will. The altar demands that you place every part of your life before Him and saying “Not my will, but Yours be done.
A living sacrifice is a paradox—it means dying daily while still breathing. It is consistently laying down your rights, desires and opinions to do God’s will. It’s in how you love difficult people, give generously, forgive quickly, and obey even when it hurts. The altar becomes a lifestyle, and the fire becomes continuous.
However, sacrifices are not always easy; they cost something. In 2 Samuel 24:24, David said, “I will not offer to the Lord what costs me nothing.” True fire falls on costly offerings. Yet, it is not about earning God’s presence but expressing your love and desire for Him. When you lay your life before Him in genuine surrender, Heaven responds.
The altar is not a place of convenience but a place of consecration. To lay your life on the altar is to say, “God, You have all of me.” It’s not a one-time act but a daily decision to yield, trust and obey. The fire of God always falls where there is sacrifice. So today, what are you holding back? What part of your life needs to be surrendered? Lay it down, please put it on the altar. Let your life become the offering, and you will see God respond—not just with fire, but also with glory.
Prayer/Action
* Rededicate your 'all' afresh to the Lord.
* Ask the Lord to consecrate you anew for His work at this endtime.
* Pray for fresh grace to zealously burn for God.
TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Father, thank you for October, arise today and teach Nigerian leaders the lesson of Nebuchadnezzar, and let the glory of Nigeria arise again, in the mighty name of Jesus.
© Strength for My Days by Bishop David Bakare - All Rights Reserved
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