Temo: A Living Sacrifice

by Solomon Rexius⁽¹³⁾
Caleb & Sol Ministries

As the Sunday night service was coming to a close, the pastor asked the congregation for a second offering. The evening message was a strong call to take part in the evangelizing of people from all nations. "The Day of the Lord is unknown," he announced, "but God has called us to spread the good news with haste. Let us give what we can in support of our national missionaries." 

 This African church was extremely impoverished by most financial standards, but abundantly rich in faith and generosity. One 11 year-old boy, Temo, was particularly bold in faith and zealous in his generosity. On this day, however, he was somewhat troubled. Eagerly desiring to give money toward this cause he believed so strongly in, his empty stomach and torn clothes were a reminder of his family's poor financial condition. Temo's father had recently been laid off his job and his mother had no marketable skills. Times were tough, to say the least.   

All that said, Temo still wanted to give what he could to the cause at hand. In addition to thinking about personal possessions he could forfeit, he began scheming of potential odd-jobs he could acquire to raise money for missionaries. But he had only the essentials as is, and there were no viable job opportunities for someone his age.    

By this time the large offering bucket was passing by his row. Sorrowfully, Temo had to let the bucket pass him by. He had nothing to offer, or so he thought. But as the pastor received the bucket in the front of the church and began to pray for God's blessing over the congregation's contribution, Temo was moved to do something rather daring.  

 Marching to the front of the church where the pastor stood with the offering bucket, he asked the pastor if he could make one last contribution. Reservedly, the pastor agreed. One moment later, he had taken off his shoes and stepped inside the offering bucket himself.    

With tears flowing down his cheeks, he lifted his hands to the Lord. "Father," he cried out, "I have nothing to give you, so I give you my life. Everything I am and everything I have is yours forever."

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. This is your spiritual act of worship." (Romans 12:1)

Article submitted Saturday, February 28, 2009 & read 90 times.

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» left by Marijo Phelps⁽¹⁹⁹⁾ (2 years 160 days ago.)

I suspect our loving Lord took him up on his offering too - would love to hear follow up stories! Marijo
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