This post is Day 22 in a series of studies about “A Living Sacrifice”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

Feel free to comment below with your own thoughts about each verse and how you will be acting on each thought. Also, if you haven’t yet signed up to receive the notifications of new studies, you can do that today (the form is at the bottom of the page).

A Living Sacrifice – Day 22

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. I find this an easier challenge than yesterday. Rejoicing is easier than blessing people we have no affection for. But what if those people are the very ones who are rejoicing or mourning? Should we not come alongside them too?

Romans 12:15

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

The Thought

Personally I find this a much easier challenge than yesterday. Rejoicing is so much easier than blessing people we have no affection for. But what if those people are the very ones who are rejoicing or mourning? Shouldn’t we come alongside them too?

Basically I think Paul is telling us to be sensitive and leave no room in our daily lives for criticism by others. Of course those who really don’t like us will criticise us anyway, or even curse us, but if we are living spotless lives as much as we know how to, and making a genuine effort to be Living Sacrifices, then nothing they throw at us will have any effect.

Proverbs 26:2Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.

This verse is very specific about a curse being an undeserved one! Often our own behaviour allows the enemies intervention in our lives. We are learning to be Living Sacrifices, remember!

If we are involved in spiritual warfare, then enemy activity will be sure to come against us, and we must remember that the real being behind that is satan. In any spiritual battle we must prepare ourselves well and make sure that there is nothing that a demon can attach itself to.

Whenever my husband and I have travelled in the past we have asked a whole team of intercessors to pray for our protection as we go, and we have had many an occasion to appreciate them.

Action

Thank God today for those who pray for you. Ask Him to reveal to you anything in your life that would allow enemy activity to affect you.

Pray rejoicing prayers for those who rejoice today and offer sympathy and practical help to those who mourn.