“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God- this is your true and proper worship” - Heb 10:1 (NIV).

It might come as a surprise to some to find the largest church in the world is based in Africa. The Basilica of our Lady of Peace is found in Ivory Coast built by President Felix Houphouët-Boigny. It can fit a crowd of 300,000 and is believed to have cost $300 million!

Building churches is long part of our Christian tradition. “He shall build me a house, and I will establish his throne forever” (I Cor 17:12, NIV). This was true of King Solomon who built a temple for the Lord, an ambition that had started with his father David. Where the latter was unable the son achieved the task.

Building churches like the Basilica in Ivory Coast is a good thing but then also we need to be reminded that our father is most pleased when we offer our lives to Him. After all what is a church empty of worshippers? All over Europe as we know there are many magnificent churches built in the past but which are today empty of worshipers.

Prayer for today: Lord Father in heaven, today I pray in the mighty name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, that I live to offer my body as a living sacrifice of worship to you.