Text: Romans 12:1-2
Memory verse:
“Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, And I will praise the Lord.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭118‬:‭19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Only a fool will deny the existence of God. “Fools say to themselves, “There is no God!” …” (Psa 14:1 GNT). A thoughtful man is always thankful. According to Psalm 92:6, a man who does not recognize God’s works in his life is described as foolish, senseless, naive, ignorant, brutish, stupid, and a simpleton. Noah was none of these, for he was intentional about his worship. Instead of being easily caught up in the euphoria of the blessing of seeing the new world, he chose to remember that he deserved to have perished with the old world. He was thoughtful enough to know that God was gracious to him, and he responded accordingly. Today, so many are caught up in the joy of seeing the new year, and they forget God’s mercy that saved them.
Furthermore, Noah didn’t just remember God, he also gave.
“Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.” ‭‭(Gen‬ ‭8‬:‭20‬)‬‬.
Remembering is giving. What did he give? He offered his life afresh to God. This is what the burnt offerings here symbolize. A burnt offering is different from all other offerings in that the whole animal was burned on the altar. It means offering one’s life in total surrender and commitment to God. This is what Noah did. This is what the scripture requires of us. “So then, my friends, because of God’s great mercy to us, I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer” (Rom 12:1 GNT). Did you notice this – “because of God’s great mercy”? In other words, the best way to remember the great mercy shown to you and to reciprocate is to offer yourself as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to His service, holy and pleasing to Him. If God has been good to you, then remember Him by the way you live your life. As a living sacrifice, you live no longer for yourself but for Him. (2 Cor 5:15). This kind of praise is well pleasing to God, and His gate of righteousness is opened to such (Psa 118:19-20)
Friends, if God remembered you, you also need to remember Him. To remember God is to reciprocate His mercy. Giving yourself wholly or committing yourself afresh to Him to live in holiness and purity this year is the best way you can reciprocate His great mercy.

Prayer points
1. Father, please help me to reciprocate Your mercy to me by living for You, in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, please, let my whole life be totally committed to You in holiness and purity, in Jesus’ name.

Today’s declarations
1. Since God has remembered me, I will remember Him and reciprocate His mercy by living totally for Him.
2. My best worship is my life willingly offered to God in total surrender and holiness.