MAY 27, 2023
Topic: OFFERING ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICE BUILDS INTIMACY
Text: II Chro. 1:3 – 12
Memory Verse: “And Solomon went up thither to the brazen altar before the Lord, which was at the Tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it.” II Chro. 1:6
After the death of his father, David, Solomon the king went to the altar made by Moses in the wilderness and sacrificed one thousand burnt offerings there to the Lord. This symbolized a total surrender of Solomon to the Lord. It showed his willingness to be led by the Lord as he ruled Israel. As a result of this gesture of surrender and willingness to follow the Lord fully; the Lord appeared to Solomon in the night and gave him a blank cheque. He told him to ask for anything that he wanted. Solomon did not ask for riches or victory over his enemies, but he asked for wisdom to lead God’s people. To show that God was pleased with him, he gave him the wisdom he asked for and in addition gave him riches and honour.
When a man’s sacrifice is pleasing to God, He will bless him abundantly both with material and spiritual blessings.
The Bible enjoins us to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God – Romans 12:18
A man who is a living sacrifice has given up doing anything that brings pleasure to himself but rather seeks to do things that give pleasure to God. In doing this, he attracts the Presence of God to his life situations with the attendant blessings that come from God. Just like Solomon, the Lord blesses such a person beyond his expectations, and he enjoys the Presence and counsel of God.
Prayer: O Lord, I yield myself as a living sacrifice to you in Jesus’ name. Amen