CAN YOU MAKE THE SACRIFICE? Part 1

“Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house,
a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices,
acceptable to God by Jesu s Christ.”
(1 Peter 2:5).

Is everything going wrong today? The house is a mess? The children are behaving badly! You want to give in your notice! But you can’t do that! You feel upset and angry. Of course, that is giving into your fleshly feelings. So, what are you going to do?

The Bible always gives the answer, although it is often not the kind we want to hear! When we feel miserable or upset, God wants us to make a sacrifice! Yes, that means to do something we don’t like doing. Something that denies the flesh and our negative feelings.

SACRIFICE OF JOY

Are you feeling down in the dumps. Forget your feelings. Make a SACRIFICE OF JOY! It is a sacrifice, isn’t it? Especially when you don’t feel like it. However, Psalm 27:6 tells us to make “sacrifices of joy.” Notice that it is plural! And how do you make the sacrifice? It goes on to say: “I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.” You’ve got to start singing. But you don’t even feel like singing! Don’t give into your feelings. Begin singing anyway. And when you start singing, your feelings will soon change.

SACRIFICE OF THANKSGIVING

If that’s not enough, God’s tells us to make the “SACRIFICE OF THANKSGIVING”

Psalm 116:17 says: “I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.”

Psalm 107:22 talks about “sacrifices of thanksgiving.” Plural again! Not only one sacrifice of thanksgiving, but sacrifices! You’ve got to keep on sacrificing your feelings and keep on thanking and praising the Lord. Read also Leviticus 7:12, 13, 15.

Jonah offered the “sacrifice of thanksgiving” when he was down in the belly of the whale where the depths closed over him, the sea wrapped itself around his head, and he sank to the very roots of the mountains! He was imprisoned in the bottom of the earth! I am sure your problem isn’t as bad as Jonah’s! But he made the sacrifice, and God gave him deliverance (Jonah 2:9).

I remember when I was first married. I was pregnant with our first baby, my husband was leaving for the mission field, and I didn’t know when he was coming home. I remember waving him goodbye, coming back to the home I was staying in, and giving into absolute grief. I am not a crier, but this time I didn’t only cry, I heaved with sobs. I wondered when, or if ever, this baby in my womb would ever see his father. There was no return date with this mission organization.

As I heaved with sobs, 1 Thessalonians 5:8 came ringing in my ears: “In every thing give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” I heard God speak to my heart, “Do you want to do my will? “Yes,” I weakly answered. “Then begin to thank Me, for this is my will CONCERNING YOU.” I did not feel like thanking God for this lonely and painful experience. But I began in faith. I kept on thanking Him until I broke through my sorrow and gained the victory.

SACRIFICE OF PRAISE

When you are full of self-pity, cast it out in the name of Jesus and make a SACRIFICE OF PRAISE. Hebrews 13:15 says: “Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” You’ve got to open your lips and praise instead of complaining! How often does God ask us to do this? Just when we feel like it? No. The word is continually, when we feel like it and when we don’t!

And guess what? It’s in the plural again! Jeremiah 17:26 talks about “bringing sacrifices of praise unto the house of the LORD.” It’s a praising lifestyle.

Mother, we have the opportunity to make ou home a place of praise, thanksgiving, and joy. Let’s do it.

PRAYER:

“Dear Father, I want my home to be filled with praise and thanksgiving and loads of joy. Please fill my heart to overflowing so I can pour it into everyone in my home. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I am not making burnt offerings as in the Old Testament, but I am making continual offerings of praise and thanksgiving.