Tag Archive | sacrifice

Walking

Dec8

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.   Ephesians 5:15‭-‬17 NASB

How do we walk wisely?

By walking according to His word.

and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. Ephesians 5:2 NASB

How do we make the most of our time?

Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.       Colossians 4:5‭-‬6 NASB

Spend time in prayer.

With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:18‭-‬20 NASB

How do we know the will of God?

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.    Romans 12:2 NASB

By prayer.

For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; Colossians 1:9‭-‬10 NASB

For this is the will of God, your sanctification; 1 Thessalonians 4:3a NASB

🌹How is your walk?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Our Treasure

Nov30

What does God need from us to fulfill His purpose, His will, His plan?

NOTHING. NOT A THING.

God desires a real and personal relationship with His people. He wants us to surrender our possessions,

So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions. Luke 14:33 NASB

Our very life, our will, our all.

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.             Romans 12:1 NASB

Surrender of our will, our purpose, our way.

But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Philippians 3:7 NASB

Self-centered versus God-centered. Worldly minded verses spiritually minded.

🌹 Where is the treasure of your heart buried? In the world or in heaven?

I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are.  As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.     John 17:11‭, ‬18 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

What is Your Sacrifice?

Oct31

A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.” Mark 12:42‭-‬44 NASB/Luke 21:3-4 NASB

This woman parted with all she had. Her livelihood was placed on the altar. She gave all she had for the glory of God.

How could she do that? She trusted in God to be her Jehovah-jireh – the Lord will provide.

🌹 What are you willing to lay on the altar for the glory of God? This woman gave her all.

And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life.” Luke 18:29‭-‬30 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

FROM WOE TO GO

Jul10

God never ceases to amaze me. He makes Himself visible if we would only seek Him. I usually write a devotional from the Scriptures I am reading in my daily reading plan but God had other plans this morning. Certain events happened this morning that brought me to Isaiah.

And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.”
Isaiah 6:3 NASB

Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.” Isaiah 6:5‭-‬7 NASB

Right here is the gospel. When confronted with Holy God, the King of Kings, the Lord of hosts we can’t but realize we are ruined, people of unclean lips. We are sinners who can’t possibly live up to God’s standard.

The coal taken from the Sacrificial altar – Jesus the Sacrifice from the altar of God – cleanses from sin, forgiven. We are clothed in His righteousness.

What do we do with this forgiveness, this new coat of righteousness?

Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8 NASB

One of the events that happened this morning that inspired this devotion was hearing from a sister in Christ who I have had the privilege to watch God’s movement in her and her families lives.

God has worked to bring this family to answer the call of “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?”

🌹Salvation is only the beginning of the work of God in you. What will be your response? “Here am I, send me!”?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

New Year 2017

Jan2

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. – Genesis 3:7

The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them. – Genesis 3:21

Adam and Eve at the realization of their nakedness, due to sin (disobedience to God), clothed themselves in fig leaves. The leaves would not have lasted long, since removing them from the vine would cause them to wilt, turn brown and deteriorate. The uselessness of our trying to cover up our sin.

But God . . . clothed Adam and Eve in animal skins. (God’s ways are always better). I thank Dr. Steve Thompson for pointing out last Wednesday night, that God sacrificed the first animal. The skins that Adam and Eve were clothed in came from an animal sacrificed because of sin. God sacrificed an animal in the Garden and also sacrificed His Son for the sins of all mankind.

From beginning to end God demonstrates his love for his creation — man and woman.

How about making 2017 the year you turn from sin to God? He made the provision through His Son, Jesus Christ. Today! Pray – asking forgiveness for your sin and your need for a Savior. Believe – Jesus died for you, was buried and arose from the dead three days later. Confess – Jesus as Lord! Live – as if He is your Lord.

May God bless your 2017 as you live for Him.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

 

Stumbling Block

Mar23

It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. — Romans 14:21

Are you willing to do without for the good of another? Is their godly walk important to you? Does another’s spiritual wellbeing take priority over your physical wellbeing?

Your life affects others if you are an ambassador for Christ Jesus.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Feet

Feb22

How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!” — Romans 10:14-15

Feet are definitely not my favorite part of the body. Anybody’s body. But here they are referred to as beautiful.

If I rewind into the past when this was written I see feet that are dirty, calloused, possibly with blisters depending on the length of travel, and bloody spots due to rocks or other debris they come across. Not so beautiful. The sacrifice to spread the good news is what makes those feet beautiful.

I look at Jesus as He went to the cross. Bloody. Scarred. Dirt embedded in every crevice. Possibly blisters. Not a pretty picture and yet a beautiful sacrifice because He brought good news!!! He brought reconciliation, salvation, eternity.

How beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good News!!!

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Living

Jan12

so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. — 1 Peter 4:2

May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? — Romans 6:2

When I think on the sacrifice, the love, the free gift of Christ for me, I am grateful. So grateful that I desire to live the rest of my life in the flesh for the will of God.

Help me, Lord, to appreciate your sacrifice, love and salvation by remembering that through You I am dead to sin. Make my desire be to serve You and bring glory to Your name.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Thanksgiving

Nov27

“He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God.” — Psalm 50:23

Thanksgiving. That is the word of the day. There is a lot to be thankful for, but the most important reason for thankfulness is that it honors the Lord. What are you thankful for today? The fact that God gave you one more day to serve and worship Him? That He is the way, the truth and the life? That He is Immanuel? That He is “I AM”? To God be the glory and thanksgiving for His mercy and grace!!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Give Thanks

Nov26

Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples. — 1 Chronicles 16:8

One of our Thanksgiving traditions, as many I know do, is to share what we are thankful for as we sit around the table. Most thoughts gear towards the food before us, family as we are gathered together, health — all good things — but we could be thanking God and sharing the great deeds He has done for us over the past year, not to mention the wonderful sacrifice of Jesus that gives us salvation.

As you think on the things you are thankful for this Thanksgiving, will you exalt our Lord and share His great deeds with those around you? It could make for a Thanksgiving to be remembered.

 

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon