New Kinds of Sacrifices!

While He was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee. As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; and they raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were going, they were cleansed. Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they? “Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.”

Luke 17:11-19

 

I was enjoying lunch at a mountain-top restaurant last Summer, and I couldn't help but overhear a family's struggle. Their elderly mother/grandmother was using a portable liquid oxygen canister, and was concerned about how much oxygen was left. After all, we were at a much higher elevation than she was likely used to. Neither she, nor anyone in her family was able to figure out how to use the capacity gauge. I had worked in the past with such apparatus, therefore I decided to offer assistance.

"Can I help you out with that?" I asked permission.

They handed me the canister, and I showed them how to hold it so as to let its own weight actuate the gauge. They realized that they had over half a tank, and plenty of time to remain at the restaurant. I wasn't looking for anything tangible in return, so I smiled and walked back to my seat realizing that not one of them had offered a "thank you" or any other form of gratitude for the assistance that had eased their minds and extended their stay on the mountain.

 

How much do we really praise and thank God for saving us from the leprosy that is sin and its consequences? We would be doomed without the Sacrifice of His Son Jesus for us! Because of Him, we no longer have to offer animal sacrifices as in ancient times, so let us offer new kinds of sacrifices...

 

For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.

Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Hebrews 13:14-16

Think About It!

Think about it, everyone knows that they have to die sooner or later, right? It is a universal axiom.

There's the legend of the Fountain of Youth (keep on looking).

There's a millionaire in Russia who has spent millions trying to build an android body for himself, thinking that before he dies, technology will have advanced far enough to somehow transfer his mind and consciousness into it (yeah, he really is banking on that).

There's another wealthy fellow who thinks that through the ever advancing science of medicine, he will be able to secure immortality for himself (last I heard, his health was failing).

Bottom line? Don't try to defeat death -- you can't.

I don't have to worry about fighting the inevitable, nor do I have to fear death, and you (insert your name here) don't have to either if you receive and follow the Savior Jesus Christ. He's the only one who can and did defeat death, and He will do it for you too if you want! Turn from sin, and turn yourself over to Him today! It's that simple.

Consider John 4:13-14:
Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

Walk in Darkness?

I came across an interesting and powerful Scripture the other day.

Usually in the Bible, light is used as a metaphor for God's revelation of Himself and His ways, but in this Scripture the imagery is reversed. Instead, light here represents mankind's attempt to find his own path (There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. Proverbs 14:12) outside of God's will, and darkness represents humbly walking in trusting obedience to God's will. In other words, rely on God to light your way, and don't try to light your own way. God's will is clearly laid out in His Word, the Bible, and He gives His Holy Spirit to His children!

I'm not sure if the reference to the firebrands is a reference to an ancient pagan ritual, or just an ancient metaphor lost to time, but the theme and meaning is clear nevertheless.

The vast majority of the world corresponds to verse 11, but may we correspond to verse 10...

10 Who is among you that fears the Lord,
That obeys the voice of His servant,
That walks in darkness and has no light?
Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.
11 Behold, all you who kindle a fire,
Who encircle yourselves with firebrands,
Walk in the light of your fire
And among the brands you have set ablaze.
This you will have from My hand:
You will lie down in torment.
Isaiah 50:10-11

 

 

In 100 Years

Hanging on the wall of a public school class room, I once saw a plaque that read something like this:

"In 100 years it won't matter what kind of house I owned, what kind of car I drove, or how much money I made, but what will matter is if I made a difference in the life of a child."

 What kind of difference was it referring to? Considering the overall context and location, I would say that it is saying, "As long as I spurred one of my students on to success in life, then I have fulfilled my lasting purpose."

So what about that child in whose life I "made a difference"? What if he became a millionaire, had a large family, and lived happily ever after? Will he not ultimately succumb to the same fate as I, ending up losing everything upon death? This life on earth is truly a mere vapor for me and for everyone else!

Nothing would have any meaning or give me any joy, if it were not for knowing that I will be with my Savior forever in the life to come. To honor and serve Him through His Spirit should be every believer's heart's desire, knowing how short life really is. What will truly matter in 100 years? How about the following revision to the previously mentioned plaque:

"In 100 years it won't matter what kind of house I owned, what kind of car I drove, or how much money I made, but what will matter is that God used me to encourage and reach others for His Kingdom, and that I am with Him forever!"

"To glorify God and to enjoy Him forever is the only worthy end of mortal man!" -- Charles H. Spurgeon

Are Words Optional?

“Preach the gospel always: when necessary use words.” -- Saint Francis of Assisi

A recent blog post by The Voice of the Martyrs makes a very good point! I have often used this quote/concept from St. Francis of Assisi as an excuse to remain in my own comfort zone by not mentioning the Name of Jesus! Did Jesus Himself just use actions to preach the Gospel? Did Paul the apostle?

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:17

Anyone can be a kind or nice person, but what is the motive? If Jesus is not mentioned people are likely to glorify that person for the kindness, but it takes true courage and humility to give the glory and credit to Christ! Consider the words of John the Baptist:

"He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30

So take courage fellow believer! The Lord Himself is with us when we act and speak in His Name:

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20


http://www.persecutionblog.com/2013/07/use-your-words.html

Is Heaven Boring?

People sometimes have a skewed image of heaven in their minds. They think that it will be a boring place of constant, slave-like singing or harp playing, while sitting on a white, fluffy cloud. That's not what God's word says at all!

God created pleasure, and therefore is no stranger to it! All too often we equate the word "pleasure" with sin, but pleasure is not sin unless it is gained in a manner contrary to God's design and intention for His creation.

Now imagine the most pleasureable experience you can have in this life... Guess what! It is nothing in comparison with what it will be like in the everlasting presence of the Creator of pleasure Himself!

You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
Psalm 16:11

Never Retreat!

As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, "I will follow You wherever You go." And Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests , but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." And He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father." But He said to him, "Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God." Another also said, "I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home." But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

Luke 9:57-62

During the revolutionary war, Washington came with his army Brandywine Creek. After they had crossed the bridge spanning the stream, one of the soldiers asked him, "General, shall we burn the bridge or leave it? After all, the enemy might drive us back, and then we would need it to make good our retreat!" Washington gave a memorable reply: "Burn the bridge! It is victory or death!"
 
Bridges of compromise must ever be burned behind us so that we leave no way back into the world. We must make a complete break with our old sinful life. The furrows of our testimony will only be straight as we keep our eyes on Jesus. Follow Him no matter what the cost, Christian. Never look back! Never retreat!
 
We know not where the path may lead,
As yet by us untrod:
We "look not back" but sweetly trust
The providence of God!
 
 
By Henry G. Bosch (1914-1995) from "Bread for Each Day"