Mirta Cerra (Cuban, 1904–1986), Plegaria (Prayer), ca. 1946. Oil on canvas, 24 × 17 1/2 in. (60.9 × 44.5 cm). Torna Art Gallery, Havana.
It’s hard to believe that July is almost over! Summer goes by so fast. Father, please help me to cherish the time I have. May I take nothing for granted. Amen.
Romans 12:1 (<<click here to read the passage)
When I sat down to write last night, my mind started to go down a different path, but it was one of those times when I truly believe that the Lord wanted me to go down the path I ended up going down. That message was clear, and it was important that I shared it. …but this other path contains an important message as well.
I’m by no means perfect but I do strive to faithfully follow the Lord’s leading. I am grateful that God can work through me even though I am imperfect…and sometimes probably obstruct His will to a degree, though He is Sovereign and His will is ultimately made known.
The other point that needs to be made here is that it is possible to do all the work of living out what we perceive as God’s will – in our lives and in the church – and we can still leave God out of it. It is far too easy to have Him there in name only.
In the notes of my Life Application Study Bible, it said regarding the sacrifices referred to in this first verse; When sacrificing an animal according to God’s law, a priest would kill the animal, cut it in pieces, and place it on the altar. Sacrifice was important, but even in the Old Testament God made it clear that obedience from the heart was much more important.
Then it referenced several verses and in looking at them, Amos 5:21-24 grabbed my attention. It reads,
“I hate all your show and pretense—
….the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies.
I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings.
….I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings.
Away with your noisy hymns of praise!
….I will not listen to the music of your harps.
Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice,
….an endless river of righteous living. NLT
Though I prefer the way I worship, I am not saying that other ways are wrong or are not pleasing to God. We all must be very careful…we are handling the things of God. We are bringing people into the Holy of Holies. Our God is a holy God and yes, we are called His friends, but we absolutely cannot trifle with His holiness. He welcomes us, but we are to respect and honor Him. We are to exude the utmost reverence in all we do. It is not about us. Every bit of it is about Him…
And it doesn’t just stop in our churches. Animals are no longer sacrificed, but the Apostle Paul calls us to be a living and holy sacrifice. And our lives of sacrifice are to be lived out, not just on Sundays or other times of worship but we are to daily lay aside our resources letting Him use us at his disposal and trusting him to guide us…at home, at work, at school, in the grocery, behind our steering wheels…every place we go, our mindset of sacrifice must go with us.
Paul got it right when he said, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you… This is truly the way to worship him.”
July 31st, 2023, Mon, 7:42 pm
