A Living Sacrifice

The Spirit calls this morning and He has yet more for me to glean from the I Kings 18: 16-39 passage that has unearthed such a treasure trove of wisdom.

Elijah was the very voice of God to the people who were in an apostate state. God in His mercy called for a contest which would demonstrate His Almighty Power and reveal the impotence of the prophets of Baal who had led them astray.

But today the Spirit turns my attention from the people to the altar, more specifically to the "sacrifice" upon the altar. Romans 12:1 says we are to offer OURSELVES as a "living sacrifice". In the I Kings scripture, the altar was prepared and the sacrifice was placed upon it, having been prepared for this dramatic demonstration of God's Power and Authority.

Today I see the picture the Spirit is trying to show me, that in this great contest between God and evil, I am like that sacrifice on the Holy altar of God. The difference is that unlike that "dead sacrifice" I am alive and able to step down and remove myself from the altar if I choose.

My deep desire is to receive the answers coming from Heaven and my God. My desire is for the Spirit's fire to descend upon my life as a demonstration of God's powerful authority for all to see and have their hearts turn back to the God of all Creation. My desire is to have the Holy One torch my life with His fire.

The Spirit recalls to my mind the times past when, in the contest with dark forces, I removed myself from the altar, too afraid or faithless to wait for God's answers. I was too afraid of what the fire would do to my comfort zones...too committed to "saving" myself. I hate looking at the past except to learn and know how I have grown in the knowledge of the Holy One and grown to trust His way with me.

Today as the "contest" moves forward, I feel the water drenching my life. I Kings 18:33, "Fill the four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood". Elijah had them do this 3 times to insure that no "human" effort was possible to "torch" the sacrifice or counterfeit an answer. And I know that there is nothing I can do now except remain on the altar. Truly drenched in the impossibility of any humanly inspired resolution, I wait.

Normally water drenching the sacrifice would extinguish all hope for an answer, but not today. In the past the seeming impossibility of God's answer brought discouragement and unbelief, but not today.

Today, I wait anticipating God's powerful answers. Today I wait for what only God can do.

The Spirit is calling. Can you hear Him?