Sacrifices We Offer To the Lord (Heb. 13:15-16)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8-08-03

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Sacrifices we offer to God

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                              Reference:  Hebrews 13:15-16

 

            1.  Message of the verse:  “15 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.  16 And do not neglect doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”  (NASB)  “With Jesus’ help, let us continually offer our sacrifice of praise to God by proclaiming the glory of his name.  Don’t forget to do good and to share what you have with those in need, for such sacrifices are very pleasing to God.”  (NLT)

            Dr. Wiersbe entitled this section “Sharing in spiritual worship.”  The spiritual worship that is contained in these two verses is the sacrifice of praise to God, and also the sacrifice of sharing and doing good.  These are two spiritual sacrifices, along with offering our bodies as living sacrifices, that the believer can now offer to God under the New Covenant.  The readers of this original letter were thinking of going back into Judaism because of the persecution that they were under from the unbelieving Jews.  The writer is encouraging them to not give up on their new faith even though persecution has come, and he advises them to help others through this by sacrifices of helps and to also praise the Lord for one day they would be in the new city that the Lord will provide for them.

 

            2.  Spiritual meaning for my life today:  The NT sacrifices of the believers are spiritual sacrifices, meaning they can only be given by the power of the Holy Spirit.  By allowing the Spirit to have control of my life and being sensitive to his leading I can offer these sacrifices to God and He will be pleased with them.  If I try and do it on my own then I am trying to help God, and God never needs any help, only my obedience.

 

The Word of God has been refreshing, challenging, and convicting to me as I read it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  To listen to the Spirit of the Lord as He speaks to me through His Word, and in my heart, that I might obey Him in all that He wants me to do.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 121:1-7

 

1.      I will lift up my eyes to the mountains: From whence shall my help come?

2.      My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.

3.      He will not allow my foot to slip; He who watches you will not slumber.

4.      Behold, He who watches Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

5.      The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade on your right hand.

6.      The sun will not smite you by day, Nor the moon by night.

7.      The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul.