My Rights, as a Living Sacrifice

Apr 12, 2008 in Julene's Journal

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WOW, WOW, WOW. I am totally humbled and thrilled all at the same time! I am reading this awesome book called The Shack by William P. Young. I highly recommend it even though I haven’t finished it yet. So maybe I should just say I highly recommend the first 10 chapters so far. This book starts out with the thing I fear most in my life, then gets a little quirky and then becomes quite delightful in its presentation of some really great spiritual truths!I am not sure how it ends yet but hopefully I will finish tonight and let you know if I fully recommend it for your reading pleasure.
There are so many awesome quotes I could share with you but I will use the most recent one I read and expound on it for you. This is a quote between the main character Mack and Sarayu (the Holy Spirit).
It starts out with Sarayu speaking -

“Rights are where survivors go, so that they won’t have to work out relationships,” she cut in.
“But, if I gave up…”
“Then you would begin to know the wonder and adventure of living in me,” she interrupted him again.
Mack was getting frustrated. He spoke louder, “but, don’t I have the right to…”
“To complete a sentence without being interrupted? No, you don’t. Not in reality. But as long as you think you do, you will surely get ticked off when someone cuts you off, even if it is God.”
He was stunned and stood up, staring at her, not knowing whether to rage or laugh. Sarayu smiled at him. “Mackenzie, Jesus didn’t hold on to any rights; he willingly became a servant and lives out of his relationship to Papa (God). He gave up everything, so that by his dependent life he opened a door that would allow you to live free enough to give up your rights.”
I LOVE THIS! It brings to mind the familiar verses in Ro.11:36-12:3 “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen. Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-His good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.” (emphasis mine)
How many of you are like me? “I love you LORD, my life is Yours, I would even die for You!….What? What did you say Lord? You don’t want me to eat that?!…What was that? Don’t buy that cute candle with the credit card that I don’t have the money for? Seriously? I mean… I love You, didn’t you see me giving You my time earlier when I did my bible study, I even remembered to pray for my friends husband! You still don’t want me to have that? Don’t I deserve that?!”

OUCH!!!! That hurts!…. but, does it really? How hard is it really to give up that which He calls us to give up? I said I was humbled and thrilled at the same time. My life is a living sacrifice which is my spiritual act of worship and through that, I get to begin to know the wonder and adventure of living in the Holy Spirit! YIPEEEEEE

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Julene Saunders, Christian work from home mom and proud Uri International Independent Distributor

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Tags: jesus, christian books, christian mom, christian home business, The Shack, William P. Young