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.
ROMANS 12:1-2 KJV
As believers we also have received the gift of righteousness (Romans 5:17). However, the degree to which our lives are transformed as we give ourselves to consecration will be to the degree at which our minds are renewed. We are considering two different kinds of believers using the life of Abraham and Lot, to typify the one who has his mind renewed and the one that has a carnal mind.
The first thing we can identify from the life of these two men is the renewed minds definition of true wealth, riches and glory. Yesterday, we mentioned that while Lot and Abraham had riches and wealth, Lot was really poor because he had no altar. The altar is a place where one will is sacrificed for another. Where one voice is silenced for another to be loud. You can’t emerge out of an altar with two different minds, two different wills, two different purposes. God’s goal for prayer is to sync our minds with His – our voice with His, our purpose with His. One heart, one mind, one voice, one purpose, one light – and that’s God’s light.
Still emphasizing the importance of an altar and prayer, fellowship with God is sacrificed on the altar of prayerlessness. Prayerlessness is a disease. You can gauge your spiritual state by your prayer life. A prayerless person or church will be devoid of Wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge and the fear of the Lord. The spirit of God rested on Jesus like a dove fulfilling Isaiah 11:1-4, while he prayed, Luke 3:21-23. Jesus was also transfigured on the mount while he prayed, Luke 9:29. To be transfigured and shine with the brilliance of heaven, to walk in the power of God and overcome all the errors that make men fall short of the beauties that are in Christ, We MUST pray!!
Another important thing to note was the presence of strife in the midst of glory.
Genesis 13:7 KJV
And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
In the midst of plenty there’s bound to be strife if there are people who are earthbound. Strife happens when people who are earth-bound have difficulties understanding the way of those who are God-focused. Strife is the un-renewed mind’s logical response to heaven’s brilliance. It is the wisdom of the world at work. How do we live above strife and position ourselves to enjoy God’s quality of life? By choosing to operate out of pure spiritual wisdom, preferring each other as Paul said in Romans 12:10. The renewed mind does everything for gain of love – the un-renewed mind does everything for the love of gain.
The gain of love will give meaning to your spiritual pursuits and adventures – The love of gain will make all your spiritual pursuits, adventures and achievements meaningless. The same way faith gives substance to hope is the way love gives meaning to spiritual exploits, 1 Corinthians 13:1-3. Beloved, it is safe to say that Love is the fire that our works will be passed through.This is how God determines if a work is valuable and useful. Let Love be the reason you do what you do.
Prayer for today: Heavenly Father, thank you for your counsel and Your word to me. Father you said that I am a house of prayer for all nations. Lord I receive this grace to pray without ceasing like all men ought to do. Father, I also pray that you work love into my heart. May I not do anything out of strife and for vain glory. Help me to choose love above else, that my works may actually endure when they are passed by the fire. Teach me to live by, for and through love, Your kind of love in Jesus name. Amen.
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