Sacrifices Pleasing to God

Breathing is probably one of the number one things on the priority list needing to be done in life in order to function properly, especially in the long run, right? If you can’t breathe, how can you help other people breathe? So don’t forget to breathe, friend!

Be still and know that He is God. He is exalted in the heavens and over the nations. We don’t have to make that happen in our limited time, it already is, and we can rest in that truth as we make our hands ready to build a wall of fortification to restore broken down walls in need of repair.

So he said to me, "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty. Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’” – Zechariah 4:6-7

Hebrews 13 – Obedience won’t crush you to incapability when done in God’s way & time; it brings you into far greater ability to do that which you’re called, as you cling to the truth of a Person far greater than comprehension.

            Sacrifices pleasing to God:

·      Brotherly love

·      Hospitality to strangers

·      Remembering the imprisoned/mistreated as your own

·      Holiness, purity, set apartness, heavenly/eternal mindedness

·      Contentment in all seasons – free from the love of money, at rest in the presence of God

·      Confidently declaring who God is and knowing His steadfastness

·      Imitating the faith of the godly

·      Being strengthened by grace

·      Receiving from Jesus that which has already been purchased on the cross: victory in Christ to do that which you cannot do in your own strength

·      Praise and thanksgiving

·      Doing good, sharing what you have

·      Obedience/submission to godly leaders in joyfulness

John 12 – A fragrance of praise to the Worthy One

            In wake of the joy of Lazarus being raised from the dead, as the cross loomed seven days ahead, Mary took an expensive bottle of ointment, lavishing it on the feet of Jesus, demonstrating a heart in awe of the one who she considered of far greater value than everything she owned. Seeking to honor Jesus above all by bowing at His feet and giving Him everything in wake of beholding His Lordship is a sacrifice pleasing to God. Jesus then demonstrated His humility and sacrificial love and commitment to humanity by washing His disciples’ feet six days later at Passover, right before His time of great triumph at the cross, but during a time of great agony of the soul over the weight of His creation’s fallenness. He carried the weight so His children wouldn’t have to, because He loves freedom, joy, and restoration.

James 1:26-27 – Purest, truest religion

·      Bridling the tongue and not deceiving the heart (but rather meditating on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy [Phil. 4:8]).

·      Visiting orphans and widows in their affliction, while walking in holiness

Micah 6:8  - What is required

·      Doing justice

·      Loving kindness and extending mercy

·      Walking humbly with God

1 Peter 4:19 – Entrusting our soul and the souls of others to the Righteous Judge

“Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.”

Psalm 51:17 – From the lips of David, the “one after God’s heart”

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” God doesn’t delight in sacrifice, so much as obedience. Obedience is better than sacrifice, and it can be costly, but the reward is of greater value: the reward of knowing Christ in the power and joy of newness of life. Obedience sets us free from heavy yokes, as we are compelled by the love of God we receive to be at rest to do that which He enables us to do by His power at work in our heart. Obedience is resting upon His unchanging grace and continuing step by baby step forward by a mustard seed of faith. A sacrifice pleasing to God is doing what we can by faith motivated by love, not because we are obligated, but because we believe God is a rewarder of those who come to Him, even in brokenness, to be healed.

Obedience - a sacrifice pleasing to God - is first and foremost loving the One who endured the cross for us for the joy of knowing us and gaining our hearts. It is loving others and the one in front of us, as we love our self (and thus self care/rest is important, vital in fact, in the whole denial of self and following Jesus journey). Obedience is walking in integrity through the lion den times of life, as we call the Sabbath a delight, take joy and courage in the Lord our Strength, and seek justice for the oppressed.

This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!!!!!!!!!! – Psalm 118:24