This post is part of a series from the book Man of God by Octavius Winslow.

“But first gave their own selves to the Lord.” –2 Corinthians 8:5

Oh, what a lovely spectacle it is to behold a young believer just emerging from the world and traveling to Calvary with a trembling yet decided step, and there consecrating himself to the Lord, to be no longer his own but Christ’s. He consecrates his soul to the Lord that the Lord may sanctify and mold it to His own image. He consecrates himself to Christ that Christ may instruct, counsel, and guide him; and thus, by that act of consecration, he acknowledges and crowns Christ as his Prophet, Priest, and King. Observe the priority of this consecration: “They first gave themselves to the Lord.” What right has an individual to dispose of himself to any one before he gives himself to the Lord? My dear reader, your first act must be a personal, voluntary, and solemn dedication to the Savior. With what justice can you unite yourself, either to an individual or to the Church of God, before you have given yourself personally to Jesus?

Read the rest of this post at The Man of God Blog.