Hebrews 13:15-16
15By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
16But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
So, what are the sacrifices here? Praising, doing good, and communicating. Let’s focus on “communicating” as a sacrifice to God. I think of communicating as an investment of time and energy, and sometimes a hassle. God’s Words tells us we need to do this to please Him. Yet, we’re reluctant to take the time and energy many times.
Communicate in the Greek for this particular verse is “koinonia” which means to communicate, fellowship, communion, partnership, participation, distribution.
Communicate: www.thefreedictionary.com
1) to convey information about; make known; impart knowledge or exchange thoughts, feelings, or ideas
2) to spread to others; transmit as in an infectious disease/virus; to transfer
3) to have an interchange, as of ideas
4) to express oneself in such a way that one is readily and clearly understood
5) to be connected with one another; to make or have a connecting passage or route; to connect or join
Aren’t there people that you have cut off communicating with because it’s way too much work?...way too much hassle?...way too much energy?...you’re too tired to take time for someone? …too busy to keep up relationships? ...too tired or busy to attend or plan times of fellowship?
Maybe we’ve been hurt, so we avoid communication. We think it saves us from more hurt, yet, because we’re God’s creations, created for relationship, we’re shooting ourselves in the foot on this one. We are His family. We cannot live without communion, fellowship, communication, and relationship with one another and Him and expect to be healthy in body, soul, and spirit.
God brings people across our paths on purpose that He wants us to “communicate” with for some reason. We need to embrace the opportunities to “please” God. And, “communicating” pleases Him well.
Definition of “sacrifice”: www.thefreedictionary.com
noun:
1) the act of offering, losing, surrendering something to a deity in propitiation or homage
2) forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of one considered to have a great value or claim
3) relinquishment of something at less than its presumed value
4) a loss entailed by giving up
5) the act of killing
6) in baseball, an “out” that advances the base runners
verb:
1) to forfeit one thing for another thing considered to be of great value
2) to endure the loss of
3) to give away for the sake of something or someone else
4) to dedicate, to give thought to, to give priority to, to pay attention to
5) kill or destroy
6) sell at a loss
7) in baseball, make a sacrifice bunt or sacrifice fly
8) in chess, to permit or force one’s opponent to capture a piece freely
As I pondered this Scripture and each definition of the key words, sacrifice and communication, it opened my mind and heart to a new realm of understanding.
The definition of sacrifice that stood out like a bolt to me was: in baseball, an “out” that advances the base runners. If we put ourselves “out” or “sacrifice”, it would advance the runners! Aren’t we all runners is the race? The sacrifice to honor God by obeying His Word, advances the runners. Wow!
1 Corinthians 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
Philippians 2:16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
The definition of communicate that stood out was: to spread to others; transmit as in an infectious disease/virus; to transfer. Aren’t we supposed to spread God’s love? Shouldn’t we be infectious to all those around us? Can’t do that without communicating.
Does the schedule you keep please God? If you aren’t fitting in the communication, fellowship, participation, relationships, etc., how can you be pleasing God? He asks us to praise Him, do good, and communicate. That’s what pleases Him.
Pleasing the Father: Heb. 11:6; Heb. 13:16; Prov. 16:7; Rom. 8:8; 2 Tim. 2:4
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
DEN OF THIEVES
I recently got a new perspective on the following Scripture:
Matthew 21: 12-13
12And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
There are two phrases in this Scripture passage that I’ve never heard anyone address: “…and cast out ALL them that sold and BOUGHT in the temple” and “…YE have made it a DEN OF THIEVES”.
Why those who BOUGHT in the temple? I’m thinking Christ was disgusted with those who were lazy worshipers. By the Law of Moses (given by God) and tradition, they were expected to BRING a sacrifice TO the temple to have the priest make a sacrifice for their sins. Instead of making preparation and bringing God their best, they were settling for whatever was available at the last minute. They weren’t taking this seriously. It was very “routine” for them. They weren’t prepared in their hearts for true repentance. They weren’t prepared to worship Him as a Holy God deserved. They were ROBBING God of His deserved honor and worship…therein, the “den of thieves”. They were disrespecting His provision for them…forgiveness of sin…and so much more.
When you honor someone else in this life, don’t you shop for just the right card? Don’t you shop for just the right gift? Don’t you make effort to think and prepare to do something to honor them, to bless them? The Bible tells us “to give honor to whom honor” is due (Romans 13:7). When someone has been a great blessing in many lives, don’t they hold big celebrations of honor? Doesn’t God deserve our honor more than any man? When we gather together, isn’t that what we’re supposed to do? Isn’t that what “church” is about?...to bring God honor as His Body…to celebrate Him…to offer Him our sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13:15) and worship?
Romans 12:1 – “I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
Since we no longer bring animals for sacrifice, because Jesus was the Ultimate Sacrifice, we are instructed to be LIVING SACRIFICES. Since we no longer need an earthly priest to stand between us and God, because Jesus is our High Priest (Hebrews 3-7) and Mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5), don’t we need to prepare our hearts? Everything in the Old Testament was a shadow of things to come. Didn’t the priests of old have a high price to pay for not preparing as instructed? Their lives were required of them when they did not prepare and honor God as instructed. We are priests and kings in His Kingdom here on earth. Much is required of us as well. This has been very sobering to me.
I’m thinking He’s not very happy with lazy worshippers. And, I’m thinking there is a price to pay for not preparing our hearts and worshiping Him “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).
Matthew 21: 12-13
12And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
There are two phrases in this Scripture passage that I’ve never heard anyone address: “…and cast out ALL them that sold and BOUGHT in the temple” and “…YE have made it a DEN OF THIEVES”.
Why those who BOUGHT in the temple? I’m thinking Christ was disgusted with those who were lazy worshipers. By the Law of Moses (given by God) and tradition, they were expected to BRING a sacrifice TO the temple to have the priest make a sacrifice for their sins. Instead of making preparation and bringing God their best, they were settling for whatever was available at the last minute. They weren’t taking this seriously. It was very “routine” for them. They weren’t prepared in their hearts for true repentance. They weren’t prepared to worship Him as a Holy God deserved. They were ROBBING God of His deserved honor and worship…therein, the “den of thieves”. They were disrespecting His provision for them…forgiveness of sin…and so much more.
When you honor someone else in this life, don’t you shop for just the right card? Don’t you shop for just the right gift? Don’t you make effort to think and prepare to do something to honor them, to bless them? The Bible tells us “to give honor to whom honor” is due (Romans 13:7). When someone has been a great blessing in many lives, don’t they hold big celebrations of honor? Doesn’t God deserve our honor more than any man? When we gather together, isn’t that what we’re supposed to do? Isn’t that what “church” is about?...to bring God honor as His Body…to celebrate Him…to offer Him our sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13:15) and worship?
Romans 12:1 – “I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
Since we no longer bring animals for sacrifice, because Jesus was the Ultimate Sacrifice, we are instructed to be LIVING SACRIFICES. Since we no longer need an earthly priest to stand between us and God, because Jesus is our High Priest (Hebrews 3-7) and Mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5), don’t we need to prepare our hearts? Everything in the Old Testament was a shadow of things to come. Didn’t the priests of old have a high price to pay for not preparing as instructed? Their lives were required of them when they did not prepare and honor God as instructed. We are priests and kings in His Kingdom here on earth. Much is required of us as well. This has been very sobering to me.
I’m thinking He’s not very happy with lazy worshippers. And, I’m thinking there is a price to pay for not preparing our hearts and worshiping Him “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).
Sunday, January 17, 2010
PAIN
If you hear a gut-wrenching scream in the hospital...it makes a difference if it's coming from the cancer ward or the maternity ward: one is life and one is death.
In our pain, we can't tell the difference. The enemy of our souls wants us to think it's the cancer ward, but the Holy Spirit wants us to know it's the maternity ward.
Read Romans 8.
In our pain, we can't tell the difference. The enemy of our souls wants us to think it's the cancer ward, but the Holy Spirit wants us to know it's the maternity ward.
Read Romans 8.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Remember Noah
After many of the past events in my life, I was discouraged about many things. As I brought them before the Lord as Psalm 142:2 says..." I poured my complaint out before the Lord"...He just said, "Remember Noah".
So, I'm passing it on to you. Noah just obeyed God. No one "heard" what he had to say. No one was changed by what he preached or taught. No one encouraged him. No one helped him. He preached a tough message. He continued on in his mission. He was obedient through it all. No matter what it looked like to other people. No matter who came against him. No matter who gossiped about him. No matter who slandered him. No matter who or what opposed him, Noah didn't let it deter him from what God had instructed. He kept plugging along day after day for 120 years! But, the day came...the destiny of that mission came to fruition.
Be encouraged.
So, I'm passing it on to you. Noah just obeyed God. No one "heard" what he had to say. No one was changed by what he preached or taught. No one encouraged him. No one helped him. He preached a tough message. He continued on in his mission. He was obedient through it all. No matter what it looked like to other people. No matter who came against him. No matter who gossiped about him. No matter who slandered him. No matter who or what opposed him, Noah didn't let it deter him from what God had instructed. He kept plugging along day after day for 120 years! But, the day came...the destiny of that mission came to fruition.
Be encouraged.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
The Race
In “A Tale of Two Cities”, Charles Dickens has this to say:
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness; it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity; it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness; it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair; we had everything before us, we had nothing before us; we were all going directly to Heaven, we were all going the other way."
That is how I would describe the last eighteen months of my life. I know there are many of you who can relate to that as well. Along with the bad came all the good. Along with the foolishness came all the wisdom. Along with the faithlessness came all the faith. Along with the darkness came all the Light. With the discouragement came all the hope.
Through it all, there came a greater understanding of self …for that pain…I am grateful. Through all the discouragement…a new hope…a new direction. As God’s Word says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
Everyday is a new adventure and has new potential to impact this world for the better. I want to be a good steward and a good servant to our God in Heaven with the time I have left on this earth. Phillipians 3:14 “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
1 Corinthians 9:24 “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain”.
Hebrews 12:1 “…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us”. We have to focus on this race…
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness; it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity; it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness; it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair; we had everything before us, we had nothing before us; we were all going directly to Heaven, we were all going the other way."
That is how I would describe the last eighteen months of my life. I know there are many of you who can relate to that as well. Along with the bad came all the good. Along with the foolishness came all the wisdom. Along with the faithlessness came all the faith. Along with the darkness came all the Light. With the discouragement came all the hope.
Through it all, there came a greater understanding of self …for that pain…I am grateful. Through all the discouragement…a new hope…a new direction. As God’s Word says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
Everyday is a new adventure and has new potential to impact this world for the better. I want to be a good steward and a good servant to our God in Heaven with the time I have left on this earth. Phillipians 3:14 “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
1 Corinthians 9:24 “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain”.
Hebrews 12:1 “…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us”. We have to focus on this race…
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Winter
I know many of you can relate to what I’m going to say. The last eighteen months have been the worst and best. The best because I grew in understanding and the love of God. The worst because I had to go through a lot of heartache to get there. But….God is faithful.
Many of you have heard that some friends are for a lifetime, some for a season, and some for a reason. The last eighteen months, I learned that I sure didn’t have that one figured out. God knows who we need and when we need them. God is Sovereign and knows what will cause us to grow into the image of His Son. Sometimes it’s painful, sometimes it’s joyful. It all comes together…….for our good and His glory.
I heard a great man talk about the seasons in our lives. He said we need to be thankful for the cold spiritual winters we have to endure. It is during winter that the bugs that damage our crops and parasites that drain the life from living forms are killed. It’s during those times that the flowers or “friends” in our lives are proven: “annuals” die and “perennials” endure. The “annuals” are for the “season” and for a “reason”. The “perennials” are for a lifetime.
Thank God for those times. It’s a purging, strengthening, resting time. It’s okay to be in the winter season. It may be lonely, but it is a necessary season set aside to rest from our labors and rest in Him. A season to increase communication with Him. A season of preparation for the Spring season. A season to get direction from Him, to get instruction from Him, to let Him prune us. It all takes time. Enjoy that winter blast. It has purpose. You have purpose.
Many of you have heard that some friends are for a lifetime, some for a season, and some for a reason. The last eighteen months, I learned that I sure didn’t have that one figured out. God knows who we need and when we need them. God is Sovereign and knows what will cause us to grow into the image of His Son. Sometimes it’s painful, sometimes it’s joyful. It all comes together…….for our good and His glory.
I heard a great man talk about the seasons in our lives. He said we need to be thankful for the cold spiritual winters we have to endure. It is during winter that the bugs that damage our crops and parasites that drain the life from living forms are killed. It’s during those times that the flowers or “friends” in our lives are proven: “annuals” die and “perennials” endure. The “annuals” are for the “season” and for a “reason”. The “perennials” are for a lifetime.
Thank God for those times. It’s a purging, strengthening, resting time. It’s okay to be in the winter season. It may be lonely, but it is a necessary season set aside to rest from our labors and rest in Him. A season to increase communication with Him. A season of preparation for the Spring season. A season to get direction from Him, to get instruction from Him, to let Him prune us. It all takes time. Enjoy that winter blast. It has purpose. You have purpose.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Fruit and Roots
Just because a tree in the orchard isn’t bearing fruit, doesn’t mean it’s not part of the orchard. It could mean the tree hasn’t been planted long enough for roots to grow deep enough to bring nourishment to the branches to bear fruit. It could be it was just transplanted from another orchard, a greenhouse, or maybe a tree hospital…or whatever they may call it. We have to be patient with these trees. We may not see the fruit for a while. But, they’re still part of the orchard.
When the tree is big and older and not bearing fruit, something is wrong and needs to be investigated by those in charge of the orchard. There could be damage to the roots. There may not be enough sunlight. There may not be enough water. There may need to be some fertilizer for the roots. There could be something blocking the growth underground. There could be things that need to be removed from the ground and from the branches. A good pruning helps new life to come to the branches many times. Again, only the One in charge of the orchard can assign someone to prune the branches.
We are of the same orchard. We need to be patient. We need to pray. We need to help set each other free. As part of the orchard, we need to share our sunshine, water, and fertilize…even when fertilizer isn’t wanted. I believe that’s called correction and instruction in righteousness. But, there are some things another tree can’t do. The One in charge of the orchard has to handle certain things. He has certain assignments He gives to His helpers. He’s the Only One that can dig deep at the roots and remove what is causing the stunted growth. He’s the Only One that can dig below and find what damage may have been done to the root. Be led of the Spirit of God. Love endures all things. Love is patient and kind.
When the tree is big and older and not bearing fruit, something is wrong and needs to be investigated by those in charge of the orchard. There could be damage to the roots. There may not be enough sunlight. There may not be enough water. There may need to be some fertilizer for the roots. There could be something blocking the growth underground. There could be things that need to be removed from the ground and from the branches. A good pruning helps new life to come to the branches many times. Again, only the One in charge of the orchard can assign someone to prune the branches.
We are of the same orchard. We need to be patient. We need to pray. We need to help set each other free. As part of the orchard, we need to share our sunshine, water, and fertilize…even when fertilizer isn’t wanted. I believe that’s called correction and instruction in righteousness. But, there are some things another tree can’t do. The One in charge of the orchard has to handle certain things. He has certain assignments He gives to His helpers. He’s the Only One that can dig deep at the roots and remove what is causing the stunted growth. He’s the Only One that can dig below and find what damage may have been done to the root. Be led of the Spirit of God. Love endures all things. Love is patient and kind.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)