Don't Forget the Cost

723 Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 24:18 And Gad came that day to David and said to him, "Go up, erect an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite." It was the third day of the plague. 70,000 men had died and David had taken full responsibility for his sin and he begged the Lord to stop the plague and put it on he and his family rather than the people. That very day the prophet Gad was sent to David telling him to build an altar. David was to offer up a sacrifice to God. This was a sign from the Lord that the plague would be stopped. There would be peace once again between God and His people. An invitation from God to sacrifice is a good thing. It is a plea for peace and at the same time, an affirmation of peace, and an expression of thanksgiving for the peace between God and man. The OT church had an open invitation to sacrifice to God, but sometimes those offerings became rote, second rate, after thoughts. Such was the case in the days of Malachi where we read: “And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?" Says the LORD of hosts. (Mal 1:8) This is an easy trap to fall into even today as we start taking our peace with God for granted, forgetting the cost of His great sacrifice. God continues to invite us to sacrifice on a daily basis for the sake of remembering His mercies in establishing peace with our own souls. Of course we no longer offer up animals, rather we have the privilege to offer up ourselves as spiritual sacrifices. Ro 12:1 says, “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. Make this a daily habit! Recount God's mercies in establishing peace with you and then simply pray, “Lord, here I am, what is it that you would have me do.” Then keep your eyes and ears open for those opportunities to serve Him. It is indeed, your reasonable service.