PRESENT YOURSELF A LIVING SACRIFICE

 

DAILY DEVOTIONAL – SEPTEMBER 25, 2021 The Dating Game with God By Tim Dilena If you have a real relationship with God, every day changes. This is why a relationship with Jesus Christ is called ‘being born again.’  We don’t need church just on Sundays.  We need God every day.  Religion will ask you for one day a week.  God will ask you for every day.  Religion will say, “Show up on Sundays, and everything will be okay.” That’s not true. If true transformation is only for Sundays, then we’re in trouble.  It’s the other six days that mess us up. God says, “I want Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday onward.  I want to walk with you.  I don’t want a relationship with you where you see me in your best clothes for two hours a week.  That’s a date. I want a marriage with you.” When Jesus died, he sent out an RSVP that simply said,  “What I’ve done for you is I’ve paved the way for the forgiveness of sins.”  If we choose to answer, God comes and changes us from the inside out.  There’s no church or religion on the planet that can radically change your heart and mind.  Only Jesus can do that, and it really starts when we say, “God, I don’t have the right words.  I don’t know what to say.  All I know is that I want that relationship with you.  I want you to change me.  I want you to be in charge because when I’m in charge, I mess this thing up.” This is for those who have just accepted Christ or don’t know God quite yet.  This is for those of you who have been serving Jesus for so long that you knew Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  This is the life Paul pointed to when he said,  “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:1-2, ESV). The more you grow in God, the more you realize that you don’t know about who he is.  No matter where we are in our walk, we must strive toward a better knowledge and passion for the Lord. We don’t need a dating relationship with God.  We need a marriage. After pastoring an inner-city congregation in Detroit for thirty years, Pastor Tim served at Brooklyn Tabernacle in NYC for five years and pastored in Lafayette, Louisiana, for five years. He became Senior Pastor of Times Square Church in May of 2020. Read and Listen OnlineForward to a Friend

Your Gift Makes a Difference Give a gift today, impact lives eternally. Your generosity is changing lives throughout the world. Give Now

The New Covenant Part 2 John Bailey joins Gary Wilkerson to discuss how Christians should think about God’s New Covenant promises. Watch Now   God Is Going to See You through Hard Times September Newsletter Our God has a definite plan. He will see us through everything by the power of his predetermined word. Read Now   Through the Lens of Eternity Celebrating 50 Years of Ministry We want to honor the Lord’s work and the many faithful believers who have been the hands and feet of God’s work. Watch Now

You are welcome to make copies for FREE distribution or retransmit the devotional via e-mail, but all devotionals must be copied or retransmitted in their entirety. However, devotionals may not be posted on any website, printed, or used in any media without written permission from World Challenge, Inc. Each request is considered on a case-by-case basis. Please contact World Challenge, Inc. using our online contact form or by calling (719) 487-7888. © 2021 World Challenge, Inc. Transforming Lives Through the Message and Mission of Jesus Christ