FAITH CAPSULE: Is your sacrifice provoking the hand of God or is it revoking it?
1 Kings 3:3-15, Romans 12
It is written, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1) How are you sacrificing to God? Sacrificing unto God is worshiping God. Worshiping God is a continuous engagement as long there is breath of life. Most times, the cost of sacrifice is inconvenient. A reasonable sacrifice is the sacrifice that counts before God.
A reasonable and acceptable sacrifice unto God will no doubt provoke the hand of God to favor. God demands and deserves a reasonable sacrifice from His creation. A reasonable sacrifice unto God will deliver a reasonable response from God. When His hand is deposited reasonably upon one’s life, every reason to stand out becomes undeniable. King Solomon was such a King that the world never stopped reasoning about the kind of wisdom he demonstrated in his life. David made us aware that Solomon had always been a wise man before God’s hand was provoked in adding a wise and understanding heart to Solomon. David said to Solomon, “Now therefore, do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man and know what you ought to do to him; but bring his gray hair down to the grave with blood.” (1 Kings2:9)This verse points out that Solomon had always been a wise man. However, when King Solomon offered a reasonable sacrifice, his story turned around forever. It is recorded about Solomon, “Now the King went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place: Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, ‘Ask what shall I give you?’”(1 Kings 3:4-5) Solomon worshiped God with reasonable sacrifice and his sacrifice provoked the hand of God.
Is your sacrifice provoking the hand of God or is it revoking it? Do you remember Cain’s sacrifice? Genesis 4:5 recorded that God did not respect Cain’s offering and Cain was very angry. His sacrificial offering must have been too ordinary for God to accept. Is your sacrifice costing you? Your sacrifice matters; it will deposit an uncharacteristic power of God that is unparalleled in your life. 1 Kings 3:12, “Behold I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.” A reasonable sacrifice will provoke a reasonable God-investment in your life. God deposited a wise and understanding heart in King Solomon.
Prayer for today: Ask God to instruct you and teach you in the way to go that you shall live for your glory.