Sacrifice: Day 7

Devotion by: Jen McAnally

1 Peter 2:4-5

Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

In this passage Peter calls us to a task, offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God. A sacrifice should cause us to stretch beyond our comfort zone. A spiritual sacrifice offers us the opportunity to give something of ourselves to God. How can we stretch ourselves spiritually? Many Christians ‘give something up’ for Lent. I believe a more important offering to God is committing to ‘add something’ that will help us to grow spiritually. During Lent I wake up 20 minutes earlier than normal so that I have time for me to listen to God. This is holy and sacred time by myself without distraction where I can read my Bible and listen to what God is telling me through the words. Committing to read devotions daily, making time in your day for centered prayer, or attending a Bible study all can be spiritual offerings to God.

We as Christians live in community, what Martin Luther refers to as the Priesthood of all believers. What brings us together is our common faith in Christ, the cornerstone of our faith. The wonderful thing about being a part of a community is that we are not in this alone. We are surrounded by other Christians to work together with us. Invite a friend to join a study with you, or to commit to their own prayer time. Knowing another person is committed to the same task as you can help to fulfill that promise.

PRAYER: Dear God, Thank you for giving us Jesus, the Christ, to be the Cornerstone of our faith. Help us to find ways in which we can offer spiritual sacrifices to you. Surround us with other believers who can help up in our spiritual journey. Amen.

Sacrifice: Day 6

Devotion by: Carleton Ruthling

Hosea 6:4-6

What shall I do with you, O Ephraim?
What shall I do with you, O Judah?
Your love is like a morning cloud,
like the dew that goes away early.
Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets,
I have killed them by the words of my mouth,
and my judgement goes forth as the light.
For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God rather than burnt-offerings.

In reading the request to write a devotional. I was struck by the request to write “a personal story that demonstrates a time when I made a sacrifice”. My first thought was of Christ’s sacrifice of his life to atone for all of our sins. Then I thought of all of the many blessings that have been given during my whole life. As a consequence, I can think of no sacrifice that I have made that is even slightly worthy of writing about. As a matter of fact, I can’t think of anything that I would classify as a sacrifice that I have been called to make.

Rather, I believe that I should be concerned for those less fortunate than me and attempt to determine what Christ would have me do with part of the assets and time that Christ has given me to care for during my remaining time on earth.

I do believe that this thought process will vary greatly with each individual but I also believe that Christ will guide us in making our decisions if we pray for guidance and then listen to his message. Certainly we need to consider our church and the many outreach programs that it is involved in but also other areas that serve in Christ’s kingdom.

PRAYER: Thank you, Lord, for my many blessings. May I be more worthy of Christ’s many blessings and have the courage to listen to Christ’s voice in making decisions in my life. Amen.

Sacrifice: Day 5

Devotion by: Anonymous

1 Corinthians 5:6-8

Your boasting is not a good thing. Do you not know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch, as you really are unleavened. For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

This passage shows how God gives us a chance to throw out the old and redecorate to bring in the new. Jesus Christ died for us, so that our sins would be forgiven. We should forgive others as well as ourselves in the same way God has forgiven us. He has given us a new life. The Easter season is a chance to start anew.

PRAYER: Dear God, Give me the strength to forgive others for their mistakes as well as overcome my pride to forgive my own faults. Amen.

Sacrifice: Day 4

Devotion by: Brett McMillen

Proverbs 15:8

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

Throughout the Old Testament, we are given laws and/or instructions that God-fearing people should follow. The lists of rules are extensive. Everything is covered from how many steps to take on the Sabbath, to the proper way to worship, to how and where to offer a sacrifice. However, in this section of Proverbs, Solomon reminds us that God does not want good works with the wrong reasons.

We can easily deceive ourselves by doing good acts and believing that that is enough. By beginning with prayer, we start with a solid foundation so that good works and sacrifice can be honestly given.

PRAYER: Gracious Father, I pray to you each day so that I may become closer to you and that I may become a better person. Show me the way to open my heart to your goodness, so that I may in turn serve others. Amen

Sacrifice: Day 3

Devotion by: Elizabeth Spoto

Romans 12:1-2

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

It’s funny that I somewhat randomly chose this passage from the list available as the topic for my Lenten Devotional. As I opened the Bible that I’ve used since my older sister gave it to me as a confirmation gift umpteen years ago, I see her highlights all over these two verses. As the baby of the family, she was probably trying to tell me that it wouldn’t hurt to sacrifice just a little in my life – since she certainly had sacrificed her share for me. Whatever her thought process, I’ve often turned to Romans over the years as guidance, largely because she led me there when I was confirmed.

And perhaps it was this verse specifically that motivated me to make a life-changing decision six years ago when I decided to drop my career of ten years at the Discovery Channel to raise a family. I was pregnant with our first child, and it’s amazing how I sweated over the decision. I’ll admit that I had a pretty cool job. I traveled around the world. I worked with some of the brightest people I’ve ever met. And I got quite a personal high from climbing that corporate ladder. I really thought of leaving as a big sacrifice in my life. But something in God’s Word gave me the courage to make the change – to make what I thought was a sacrifice.

Of course, now I have to look back and laugh. In hindsight, it was no sacrifice at all. Quite the opposite, I think I would have sacrificed so much more if I had remained at Discovery. God blessed me completely by that decision to follow what I believed was His will, personalized just for me. Sure, corporate kudos were good for my ego, but my head bloats plenty when my five-year-old tells me how much she loves to be with me. And when my one-year-old smiles at me with his entire being…. before he throws a handful of corn across the floor.

Prayer: Dear God, Please give us the courage and faith to surrender to your perfect will. Guide us in our decisions – large and small – to make those sacrifices in our lives that so often lead to your greatest blessings. Amen.

Sacrifice: Day 2

Devotion by: Fifth - Sixth Grade Sunday School Class

Mark 14:3-9

While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head. But some were there who said to one another in anger, ‘Why was the ointment wasted in this way? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.’ And they scolded her. But Jesus said, ‘Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.’

As we learn of the sacrifice of ointment made by the woman (who will be remembered for her sacrifice wherever the gospel is preached), we thought about the sacrifices we make (such as waking up early to go to church or giving up time with my dad so he can spend time with my little brother). It is hard for us to think of sacrifices we make that begin to approach the sacrifice made by this kind and generous woman. Sacrifice is hard, and Jesus asks us to sacrifice. We need to sacrifice more as Jesus has done for us and asks us to do likewise. The 5^th and 6^th graders had the following ideas for ways we could sacrifice to show our love for God: (1) give money to church and to charities, (2) give food to those who need it, (3) deliver mulch for boy scouts, (4) help out with events at church or for other groups, or (5) donate to book and clothing drives.

Prayer: Dear God: Please help us to give more each day; to give food to the poor and those who are less fortunate. Please help out the people in New Orleans and others who have been hurt by hurricanes and other natural disasters. Thank you for all you have given us. Help us to make more sacrifices. Help all people in need. Help those who have less money. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Sacrifice: Day 1

Devotion by: Louise Babirak

Hebrews 7:26-28

For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect for ever.

This passage tells us that Christ did not need to offer sacrifices day after day for our sins. His life was the sacrifice for his people. The sacrifice was done once and it was finished. Once that sacrifice was completed all who believed in him would be washed of their sins. When we think about it our small sacrifices on earth seem very small. At Lent we may give up desserts or wine or other things that we don’t really need. Parents give up hobbies, time and money to benefit their children. My parents gave up many luxuries to send my sister and me to religious elementary and high schools. Although our human sacrifices seem small in comparison to Christ’s, they serve a great purpose. They show our commitment to something other than ourselves. Sacrifice takes the focus off of ourselves and we realize as is pointed out in “The Purpose Driven Life” that is not all about you or me. Sacrifice allows us to be more Christ-like and to focus on others.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, help me to understand why I need to sacrifice and to appreciate how much it helps me grow in your love. Amen.