A Living Sacrifice
Our life is not meant to be compartmentalized. Worship of the one true God and our daily life aren't meant to be separate but to flow together in harmony. We are called to have our whole nature transformed not just a piece or part of us. Our life in God ought to have effect on every aspect of our being and our living.
Romans 12:1-2 reads:
“I beseech thee bretheren by the mercy of God to PRESENT YOUR BODY a LIVING SACRIFICE...
Elijah and Mount Carmel
There atop Mount Carmel Elijah confronts the false gods and proclaims the one true God. Is is only one prophet of Adonai facing 450 men who are prophets of Baal and yet his faith is firm. He challenges the prophets of Baal and builds an altar to the true God. The main part of the passage is 1 Kings 18:30-40 but I'll focus in on the main part here in which Elijah prays:
Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.
The phrase “turning their hearts back again”...
Faith, Family, and Land
There is a documentary film by Daniel Cohen which everyone should see called The Jesus Diaries: Everyday Life in the Time of Messiah by DOKO MEDIA LTD. At the time I write this it can be found on YouTube but make sure it is in fact this title and follows the life of Jesus in Nazareth and the community there that still lives this way of life. Another film that should be watched and can be found on You Tube is the 2015 film Full of Grace directed by Andrew Hyatt. The main portion of the film I recommend watching is the section beginning 35 minutes into the film and including the section at around minute 42 with the apostles discussing the Jewish and Gentile relations within the Church. That conversation is powerful. We can't really live out our faith and know Jesus without those Jewish roots. We also need those Jewish roots before the faith can properly expand out to all the other various cultures without loosing its roots...