Under The Fathers Wings

In the world we live in today, when

we use the word sacrifice, we mean

by that , we have to do without

something in order to reach a goal.

Such as a new car, house, money for

our children's education, in some

cases we think that sacrifice is

a trade off to get something that

we desire. We have lost the entire

meaning of Sacrifice. In the Old

Testament a sacrifice was an act

of worship, by which the blood of

An animal was shed to obtain

forgiveness from sin, and that is

a far greater value than cars

houses, and ect. All the sacrifices

of the Old Testament, anticipated

God's ultimate sacrifice of Jesus

on the cross for the sins of the

world.

"Levitcus 1:4-5"

Lay your hand on its head so the

Lord will accept it as your

substitute, thus making atonement

for you. Then slaughter the animal

in the Lord's presence, and Aaron"s

sons, the priests , will present the

blood by sprinkling it against the

side of the altar that stands in

front of the tabernacle.

"Leviticus 17:11"

For the life of any creature is in

its blood. I have given you the

blood. So you can make atonement

for your sins, It is the representing

life, that brings you atonement.

The sacrificial system reminded

Isreal of the seriousness of sin

before their holy God. The sacrifice

symbolized the person's desire to be

forgiven for sin and thus be restored

to God and receive new life. A life had

to be given up and an animal was used

at that time, so that a persons life

could be spared . The blood of the

sacrifice represented one life being

poured in substitution for another.

So as we see here, that is why God

required a blood sacrifices in the

Old Testament. As Jesus was our

Sacrifice for us, the animal was

there sacrifice in the Old days.

'Isaiah 1:11-13

"I am sick of your sacrifices," says

the Lord. "Don't bring me any more

burnt offerings !" I don't want the

fat from your rams or other animal.

I don't want to see the blood from

your offerings of bulls and rams

and goats. Why do you keep parading

though my courts with your worthless

sacrifices ? The incense you bring me

is a stench in my nostrils ! Your

celebrations of the new moon and

the Sabbath day, and your special

days of fasting, even your most pious

meetings , are all sinful and false.

I want nothing more to do with them.

As I read these words that were

Penned so long ago, it reinforces

over and over God's love for us,

even when he is raking us over

the coals. God wants justice, mercy

from His people more than He wants

sacrifice. For the Israelites sacrifice

was an important part of there

worship. But just like today, when our

worship becomes mere ritual without

sincerity, it is worthless in God's eyes.

Our worship and sacrifices is of no

account if it doesn't come from

the heart. When we as his people

have no love, joy, mercy in our hearts

God tell us to go away, that we are

a stench to his nostrils. We as Christians

have to understand, we cannot come

in to the house of worship , with sin

in our hearts and lives and expect God

to honor our sacrifices of praise to him.

But he tell if we ask for forgiveness

he will apply the blood and cover our

sins. God will have mercy on us. But praise

God there is hope for us though the blood

Of Jesus.

"John 1:29"

The next day John saw Jesus coming

toward him and said "Look !" There

is the Lamb of God who takes away

away the sins of the world.

Just as the lamb's blood brought

about forgiveness in the Old

Testament , so did the blood of Jesus

though his death on the cross ,

takes away the sins of the world. It

was though his shed blood replaced

once and for all the blood sacrifice

of lambs and bulls. The death of

Christ, so that we can be covered

By his blood was the precious price

he was willing to pay for our

salvation . This is an awesome and

humbling thing for us to never

forget what was given for us to come

into a right relationship with God.

"Ruth 1:16"

But Ruth replied "Don't ask me to

leave you and turn my back. I will

go wherever you go and live

wherever you live. Your people will

be my people and your God will be my

God.

"Matthew 19:29"

And everyone who has given up

houses or brothers or sisters

or father or mother or children

or property, for my sake, will

receive a hundred times as much

in return and will have eternal

life.

We can see from the Word of God, that

he does expect us to make sacrifices

and we will be called to make

Sacrifices, just as Ruth was by

Her willingness out of her love for

Naomi to give up her home and

everything she knew and cared

for in order to take care of Naomi.

This showed her understanding of

what was truly important. If we

are going to follow Jesus it will

involves personal sacrifice.

If we will be obedient to God as

Abraham was, even though we have

to give up something in order for

God to bless us beyond our

expectations.

"1^st Samuel 3:13"

I have warned him continually that

Judgment is coming for his family,

because his sons are blaspheming

to God and he hasn't disciplined them.

"2^ND Samuel 11:15"

The letter instructed Joab, "station

Uriah to deliver on the front lines

where the battle is fiercest. Then

pull back so that he will be killed.

Reading the above scriptures, is like

picking up the newspaper today and

reading the head lines. There is no way

that we can read them and know

without a doubt that human nature

is the same all though the ages. Eli

sacrificed his family life for his

career. David sacrificed the life of

another man to hide his lustful deceit.

This is not the kind of sacrifice God

Is talking about, we cannot sacrifice

or give in to our evil desire and expect

God to turn a blind eye. We cannot

compromise, destory others and

and think God will accept it, yet we

have all been guilty of given to God

second best as a sacrifice to him.

Sadly there are Christians who

do this and can't understand why

they have no victory in there lives.

But the Word tells us if we will confess

Our sins and faults to him he is just,

and will (not maybe) but will forgive

us, God always gives us a way of

escape. Glory! Isn't God good?

Lord, thank you for your goodness

to us. we glorify your name, Lord let

our sacrifices be a sweet savor to

you nostrils and not a stench. Lord

help us to always to be teachable. Teach

us in all your ways Lord. If we have

evil desires and compromise in our

live Lord, Let us lay them at your

feet and allow the blood to be applied

to our hearts and lives. We ask this

in the name of Jesus Christ our LORD.