SACRIFICIAL: 2 Timothy 3:1-2 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Romans 12:1-2 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. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. All my heroes in the missionary biographies were weird to their own generations!
o I WILL PRESENT MY PAST HURTS TO THE LORD AND ALL MY PRESENT TROUBLES. Genesis 41:51-52 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: “For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house.” 52 And the name of the second he called Ephraim: “For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.”
o I WILL GIVE THE LORD MY FUTURE PLANS TO MAKE SURE THEY FIT WITH HIS. Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
o I PRESENT TO YOU O LORD – MY EYES, MY EARS, MY HANDS, MY FEET, MY DATING LIFE, AND MY SOCIAL LIFE. Romans 6:13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
o I WILL PRESENT MY FRIENDS TO THE LORD, AND ONLY HANG WITH THOSE WHO HANG WITH GOD! James 4:4-5 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?
o I WILL PRESENT MY APPETITES TO THE LORD AND HUNGER FOR HIM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND NOT THE WORLD. 1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (We are defenseless but our Lord defends us. Our enemies surround us, they hover around us, and they slither beneath us. John the Apostle identifies our enemies as The World system that governs the earth in greed, controlled by legions of demons, controlled by Satan. The world surrounds us always reminding us that we never quite have enough. The Flesh is our insatiable appetite inherited at birth and never completely gone until death. The Devil is that most powerful created angel that opposes all that is of God and goes to any length to steal our affections and devotion away from God!)
In brief, seven fresh attitudes have to be acquired. They are the equivalent of progressive forward movements onto new ground with God. If one follows them they will discover fresh pasturage; new, abundant life; and increased health, wholesomeness, and holiness, in their walk with God. Nothing will please Him more and most certainly no other activity on our part will or can result in a great benefit to other lives around.