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For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. Romans 6:20-22 There’s an epidemic I've noticed in the Church today – so many people are giving no real evidence of conversion and salvation. And I think the root cause of this is that so many are trying to turn from their idols before they turn to God. In other words, they hear the message of Jesus Christ, but they think that the way to come to Christ is to give up their sin first, and then give their lives to Jesus. But that can’t be the way that it works because you and I don’t have the power to turn from our sins on our own! I've seen so many people who say, “I want to give my life to God now, but I’ve got to clean up my act first.” But the reality is that this line of thinking is 180 degrees opposed to what the Bible tells us. Today's passage couldn't be clearer: our bonded slavery to sin is too strong for us to release ourselves on our own. Rather, we must first come to Christ, let Him invade our lives, and then He'll transform us from the inside out. That is real conversion! The grace of God through our saving faith in Jesus Christ is the only thing that can deliver us from the power of sin. So if there's anything holding you back from making that decision today, trust Christ first and then allow Him to change you from the inside out!   YOU CAN'T OVERCOME YOUR SIN ON YOUR OWN. SO TRUST IN CHRIST FIRST AND FOREMOST AND HE WILL CHANGE YOU FROM THE INSIDE OUT!

The Reasonable Service of Sacrifice

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“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. 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.”
Romans 12:1–2

I read about a missionary in Central America who was preparing to retire after many years of fruitful service in the poor mountain villages. Those whose lives she had touched wanted to hold a celebration to honor her, so word went from town to town to come together on a certain day for a farewell event. When the missionary arrived, she saw an elderly man who had walked four days from his remote home to get there, bringing the only gift he could afford—two coconuts. When she expressed her surprise that he had traveled so far, the man replied, “The long walk was part of the gift.”
The right attitude toward serving God should never be frustration or the feeling that the cost of service is too high. What was the cost of our salvation? Nothing less than the precious blood of the very Son of God. In light of the incredible mercy we have received, it cannot be unreasonable for us to make any sacrifice God calls on us to make for Him. The reality is that God does not need our help to accomplish His purposes—He graciously allows us to be part of His work, using the gifts and power He provides.
There are some who resent or complain about the cost of serving God. This reveals a heart that is not grateful for the grace and mercy received from our loving Father in Heaven. If we truly recognize and appreciate what we have been given, then it is easy for us to sacrificially serve the Lord.
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

Because of His grace freely given, nothing that God asks of us for His service is too much to be reasonable.