WEDNESDAY with Pastor Cliff - Sacrifice: According to the Bible we are to be a sacrifice every day. The sacrificial system in the Old Test was intended to get the attention of the people; the penalty for sin was the death of something. Sin cost a life. The sacrificial system was intended to be a deterrent to sin and its consequences. Before too long, the sacrificial system was being abused. The people, said, “As long as I have enough bulls, goats and lambs to sacrifice, I can do whatever I want.” This is tragic. But there is an anticipation of a better sacrifice, the ultimate sacrifice: Jesus Christ. Paul lays out in Romans 12:1 what a living sacrifice really should be. It is your essence, the quality as you present yourself is holiness. The word ‘holy’ may bring up images of long hair up in a bun, long dresses and stiff collars. It may bring up the image of the attitude of ‘holier than thou.’ Still others may think of a long list of dos and don’ts. At salvation you have hope and a secure home in Heaven. But In between the Hope and the Home, there is a lot of living to do that is marked by holiness. 1 Peter 1:15-16, God demands from you holiness that only He can give to you. God is not only the ‘why’ to be holy but He is the ‘way’ to be holy. Apart from God, holiness is impossible. If you have an idea or method about holiness, chunk it. Holiness is not a matter of being religious, kind or a matter of observing some ritual. Holiness is a matter of relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Holiness loves what God loves and hates what God hates. That hymn that you sing in church, ‘Just As I Am’ only applies to salvation. After you meet God, you cannot remain just as you are. Sacrifice is required to grow, if you want to be acceptable living sacrifice.
Posted on: Wed, 07 May 2014 10:00:01 +0000
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