“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)

This Scripture speaks of total consecration to God. A willing believer must come to the point where he or she totally commits everything to the Savior, trusting that He will transform it into that which is pleasing and useful to Him. The precious Christian hymn “Take My Life and Let It Be” echoes the same thought.

Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

A grateful Christian so values the things of God that he will consecrate everything to Him, like the wise man in Christ’s parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth it, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field” (Matthew 13:44).

A consecrated life involves not only one’s possessions, but one’s entire life. Our choices and thoughts should always be made with Him and His priorities in mind. “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16).

We have been redeemed from lives of sin and eternal worthlessness. Our Rescuer, the Lord Jesus, deserves our undying praise. There is no better use of our time and abilities. “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” (Hebrews 13:15). JDM