Sacrifice

I talked about this in other blogs but I never know who may read these so I want to return to this again.  Let me take you back in the Old Testament to Abraham’s day.  Abraham and his wife, Sara, had a child when they were very old that they loved and they called him Isaac.  Isaac’s name meant laughter and I am sure he brought much joy to his parents.   Abraham was a man that honored God so to test his obedience, God told him to take his son and sacrifice him which he was willing to do, and was ready to slay him with his knife, but God stopped him at the last moment and provided a ram for the sacrifice.

There were idols that many of the people worshiped in that day and some of them would sacrifice their children in the fire to them.  That was an abomination to God and it never had come to His mind to actually sacrifice anyone’s child to Him, what happened to Abraham was just a test, it was something God never intended to take place.  Abraham was willing to sacrifice his only child for God but God took care of the sacrifice; I wonder what you would be willing to sacrifice for your God?  Would you be willing to get rid of your TV or your I Pad or your I Phone or anything else that you are putting before God?  What about your bad habits and sins, maybe some relationship you shouldn’t be in?  What about the music you listen to that pulls you away from godly thinking and what about the things you are involved in that you know you shouldn’t be?  And what about some of your friends that keep trying to pull you in another direction!! It seems that it is so easy today to conform to the world and its practices and vices, instead of being transformed by godly values and practices.

Paul spoke to the Romans about this problem in the book of Romans chapter 12 verses 1-2 please read, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

God instituted sacrifices in the Old Testament but obedience was far more important to Him. Read what Samuel said to King Saul in 1 Samuel 15:22-23, “And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.”

Being obedient to God’s Word is very important.  If you are caught up in the world and consumed by its practices, teachings and values you are being disobedient to God.  Read what it says in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

Now read what it says in 2 Corinthians 7:1, “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

What we need to do is turn away from sin and turn towards God and do the things that would please Him.  It is far better to turn to God and repent, which means to turn away from our sins and be forgiven, to confess our sins and make Him the Lord of our lives and experience His genuine peace, love and joy in our life and be forgiven of our sins and set free, then to live without any hope!! Jesus came that we might have life and that we might have it more abundantly.  He didn’t come to make bad people good, He came to make dead people live.  The Word of God says that we were all dead in our trespasses and sins, so instead of sacrificing ourselves to Satan and his will and never being set free, let’s be living sacrifices unto God and do the things that please Him which includes not conforming to the world and the things that are detestable that people do that are not believers in the world.  Something to think about and may you have a super day.  May the good Lord bless you and yours!!