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Who Is In Control Of Your Life?
In 2 Samuel 24 we read of the account of King David choosing to “register the people.” In v.10 we see David confessing “I have sinned greatly in what I have done.” For this sin the Lord will punish him, but allows him to choose his punishment (v.11-13). David chose three days of pestilence on the land of Israel. During this timeframe “seventy thousand men of the people from Dan to Beersheba died” (v.15). However, v. 16 tells us that the Lord relented and “said to the angel who destroyed the people, ‘It is enough! Now relax your hand!” The Lord then allows David to “erect an altar” to atone for his sin and put an end to the fatal pestilence in the land.
As instructed David goes to the threshing floor of Araunah and asks to “buy the threshing floor from you (Araunah), in order to build an altar to the Lord, that the plague may be held back from the people” (v.21). Essentially Araunah attempts to give away the farm free of charge. David responds by saying, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God which cost me nothing” (24).
Spiritually, our souls became engulfed with pestilence by our personal sins. Thankfully our heavenly Father “once for all” (Hebrews 7:27) offered a sacrifice for our sins, His only Son. A correlation here is that the sacrifice of Jesus did not cost you or I anything. God showed His abundant mercy and love by giving the world this life-giving sacrifice (1 John 4:9-10; John 3:16). It causes one to wonder, since this amazing gift (Ephesians 2:8-9) has been so freely given, do we ever take it for granted.
Romans 12:1-2 instruct those who have accepted this free gift “to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” Paul penned in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
Even though the “sacrifice” might have been free God asks and expects something from His saved children, obedience! May we consider that our lives as Christians should be more than just heartless obedience. Our attitudes should mirror David who refused to offer something to God that cost him nothing.
Sadly, many Christians act as if their “living sacrifice” should be free and without burdens. So, I ask, Who Is In Control of Your Life? What are you willing to “sacrifice” for Christ? Are there limits to your self-denial? Is there a point in which you feel God is asking too much? On any given week are we willing to “sacrifice” more than just three hours of devotion to God apart from Sunday worship? Are we willing to “sacrifice” unrighteous hidden habits? Are we willing to “sacrifice” such unrighteousness as lust, fornication, adultery, idolatry, lying, theft, coveting, selfish ambition, hatred, anger, etc?
Being saved by grace (Eph. 2:8) does not mean God doesn’t expect us to sacrifice for Him. Go and read Romans 12:1-2; Galatians 2:20; Matthew 16:24-27; Hebrews 5:9 just to name a few. When we were baptized into Christ we were given the greatest gift of all, eternal life. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” When I consider the price paid for the “free gift” I have been given I desire to “sacrifice” more not less. What about you?
