Sacrifices to God

My life is comfortable.  I reside in a warm, loving home.  I receive a consistent paycheck from a reliable employer.  I live in a city that seeks to continually grow and improve, yet is long-known for its supportive, community spirit.  I am a citizen of a country founded on freedom and personal happiness.  Surrounded by all these comforts, it is eternally important for me to offer sacrifices to my God.  If I want to be a follower of Jesus, I must deny myself and sacrifice daily (Luke 9:23).

 

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.  Romans 12:1-2

Living sacrificially is a testament about my priorities.  If I am to love the Lord God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength, I must submit to his will and seek to please him.  I must sacrifice my will for his will.  Additionally, living sacrificially causes me to submit to others out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21).

Living sacrificially can be accomplished in numerous, concrete ways.  For example: dedicating my time and energy to help someone in need, sharing my wealth and resources to benefit those less fortunate, and giving up my comfort or safety to fulfill a commitment.  Sacrificial living can take many forms but it must be done sincerely and wholeheartedly in order to be acceptable and pleasing to God (see Philippians 4:18; 1 Peter 2:5).  Being a living sacrifice may cost popularity or friendships.  Leisure time or treasured habits may need to be given up.  Future plans may need to be adjusted.  In other words, I may need to get out of my comfort zone.

Living sacrificially will transform thinking and reinforce faith.  The sacrificial lifestyle is an eternal investment, with a heaven reward.  Sacrificial living affirms that nothing will come between me and my God.  Sacrifices to God keep me from using my God-given wealth selfishly.  I want to be a fragrant offering.

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess his name.  And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.  Hebrews 13:15-16

Prayer:  Dear Father, I want to be pleasing to you.  Please help me to overcome my tendencies toward self-reliance.  Remind me this world is only temporary.  I offer my life as a living sacrifice and look forward to my heavenly home.  In the name of Jesus, amen.

Carl Smith
Stephenville, TX

A Secure Heart

There is probably nothing more exciting and heartwarming than to hear the story of family members who get to meet for the very first time.   I recently had such an experience myself while attending a conference on the west coast.

It was a glorious, tropical day, one of those picture-perfect days when you feel God’s presence in the beauty of nature and can hardly wait to get outside.  My friends and I had just arrived at the elevator when I noticed a young woman who was visibly shaken and trembling.   She slowly made her way to the elevator. With her back to us and her head bowed, rode quietly with us to the lobby.  She was first to get off the elevator and I was not really paying attention when one of my friends looked back and pointed her out to me.  I went to her and told her that I could tell she was upset and wondered if there was anything I could do to help.  I had no idea I was meeting a sister for the very first time.

As we sat and visited, it quickly became apparent that we had several things in common.   Early in our conversation I could tell that she was a believer so it did not take me long to ask what church she went to.  She identified herself with a Church of Christ in her community.  I then told her that I too had been a lifelong member of the Church of Christ.  She was astounded!  She said she knew there were many other churches of Christ in the world but was surprised that I was even familiar with the church.    

Through her tears she began to share her story.  She first told me that she was planning to take her life.  She had written a letter to her sister and had written several notes including one to the housekeeper who would find her in the room, apologizing for what she had done.   

She had traveled two hours the day before to meet a young man whom she had known since high school.  They had kept in touch by phone but she had not seen him in three years.  She traveled by train and had planned to meet him for dinner, visit and then return home.  She had not told anyone where she was going.  She knew her family and friends would not approve.  After dinner her friend had taken her to the hotel and they visited there for several hours.   She was devastated when he told her that he did not love her and would not be seeing her again.  She said in spite of the fact that their families would never approve of their relationship, due to cultural and religious differences, she loved him and told him that if she could not be with him, when he left she would take her life. She wanted more than anything for him to love her unconditionally as she loved him.  

My sweet sister was in the depths of depression!  She had left the room to make a phone call, to tell her sister goodbye.  She felt everyone would be better off if she just went away, evaporated from their lives.  She could see no reason to live.  Her father had left her mother when she was one year old.  She knew that he had sexually abused her sister who was ten when she was born. Her mother blamed her sister for breaking up their marriage.

She continued to tell of the difficulties she had faced throughout her twenty-three years.  Her heart was breaking as she shared that a year ago she had given birth to a baby girl.  She had given her up for adoption.  I pointed out to her that someday that little girl may want to know her biological mother.  Had she thought about how it would affect her when she learned that her mother had taken her own life?

I asked if there was anything she ever dreamed of doing.  She said she had always wanted to be a cosmetologist.  When I inquired as to why she had not followed this dream, she said everyone told her it was not possible.  I assured her that God loves her and that He has a plan and a purpose for her life.  I told her that by His grace and with His help, she could accomplish whatever she wanted in life.   

I was able to share about experiences in my life when I also needed help.  I told her about the death of my husband to whom I had been married for forty-eight years.  I shared with her a description of “true love”, a mutual love between a man and woman as God intended from the beginning of time, a love worth the wait.  

We went to my room to make some phone calls.  She called the friend who left her at the hotel to let him know she did not follow through with her plan.  When I had finished praying she asked if she could pray.  With a sincere and contrite heart she earnestly confessed her sins and thanked God for intervening and saving her life.  

She had me call her boss and her sister to let them know she was fine and would be going home on the afternoon train.  She called a friend from church who was   happy to hear from her.  She said she would arrange for someone to meet her at the train station and take her to a service they were having at church that evening.

She listened attentively as I encouraged her to share with members of her church family who could help her through this difficult time in her life.  I suggested she see a physician and told her she could get help and did not have to feel this way.  She shared contact information with me and I, with her.  I have emailed her and recently spoken with her on the phone.  She assured me that things are much better.  I look forward to staying in touch with my precious sister.  “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord.  “They are plans for good and not disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”  Jeremiah 29:11

My sister and I have so little and yet so very much in common.  We both have experienced broken hearts and I’m sure will continue at times to be faced with challenges beyond our wildest imaginations.  However, we do know how to secure our hearts.  Our loving Father whom we share has seen to that!

An age-old hymn, one I sang as a girl growing up, comes to mind, “How Shall the Young Secure Their Hearts?
   “How shall the young secure their hearts, and guard their lives from sin? Thy word the choicest rules imparts to keep the conscience clean, to keep the conscience clean, to keep the conscience clean.
   Tis, like the sun, a heav’nly light, that guides us all the day, and thro’ the dangers of the night, a lamp to lead our way, a lamp to lead our way, a lamp to lead our way.
   Thy word is everlasting truth; how pure is every page!  That holy book shall guide our youth, and well support our age, and well support our age, and well support our age.”  

Jan Alderfer

Stephenville, TX

The Hope That Anchors

Can you feel the buzz? It’s in the air! Everywhere you go people are fluttering around with happy chatter as they go through their endless list of preparations for the happiest time of the year. I have to admit, I do love Christmas time and I do possibly go overboard when it comes to decorating or, as I like to refer to it, “getting in the spirit.” One of my favorite “getting in the spirit” times is to grab some coffee and perch in front of the Christmas tree and just stare at all those twinkling lights and intricate ornaments that I have so many sweet memories attached to. I love to reminisce about childhood Christmases,  memories of Christmas with grandparents, and fond memories of my daddy.  He was an incredible man of faith who not only talked the talk, but walked the walk! One of my greatest regrets is that my children never had the opportunity to meet him and receive his love and strong Christian influence. But, my precious mother, who overflows with love and has a huge heart of a servant, has always been a strong witness to them along with others, including my brother, who just so happened to start a little website called Word For Today that now reaches thousands of people worldwide.  Thank you for that ministry and opportunity, Randy…you’ve done an outstanding job!

One of my favorite ornaments is a wooden anchor that a precious friend gave to me.  It reads Hebrews 6:19-20: “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.  It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus who went before us, has entered on our behalf.  He has become a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."  As I gaze upon the beauty of the tree, I can’t help but fix my eyes upon Jesus, our high priest, who provides hope and strength to press on.  It is His work on the cross that has atoned for our sins and provided access to God.  He is living today in the presence of God, where He intercedes in prayer for our well-being.  This is the hope that will anchor your life.

I love Matthew 27:50-51, “Jesus tore down the curtain that veiled it by offering the sacrifice of Himself that satisfied God’s penalty for His people’s sins."  The power of the greatest gift ever given is incomprehensible.  By becoming our righteousness, Jesus has been able to make peace between sinful people and a holy God.  “Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them” (Hebrews 7:25).

When we know God and have a relationship with Him, His good and pure laws or commands are put inside us by His spirit, so that  His desires begin to be ours.  Are you experiencing the greatest satisfaction and peace that a human being can experience?

Heavenly Father – thank you for Christmas and the special joys of the season.  Help us to anchor our trust in Jesus Christ so that we might experience the amazing joy of daily drawing near to you, Father.  Praise to our Priest and King forever, Jesus Christ!
In His glorious name we pray. AMEN.

Carla Henson
Tuscola, Texas

You are Forgiven!

Which is easier: to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up and walk”?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins… He said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” Luke 5:23-24 NIV

Do you have a hard time accepting God’s forgiveness?  If so, what do you believe is the source of your difficulty?

Jesus came as the Son of Man to rescue us from the great plight of man: we have a sin problem, and we are powerless to help ourselves.  Given the right set of circumstances and the wrong state of mind, each of us is capable of just about anything.  Even if we could get our external lives under perfect and legalistic control, we’d probably rot on the inside with the heinous sin of pride.  Let’s face it we’re all hopeless—except that Jesus came as the “Son of Man” with the “authority on earth to forgive sins.”

I can remember being so devastated over a sin I had allowed to ensnare me that I repeatedly begged God to forgive me.  I confessed my sin with great sorrow and lost a few nights sleep. Still, I continued to plead for forgiveness. Then one day God spoke to my heart in those words in Luke 5, “Terry, my child, you have an authority problem. You think you can do your part which is to repent.  You just don’t think I can do My part which is to forgive.”

I was stunned.  I began to realize that my sin of unbelief in His power to forgive me was as serious as my prior sin of rebellion.  It was eye-opening!

If you have truly repented—which means you have experienced godly sorrow and a subsequent detour from the sin—bathe yourself in the river of God’s forgiveness. The Son of Man has authority to forgive sins right here on earth. You can experience the freedom of complete forgiveness right now.  Fall under Christ’s authority and accept His grace.

He prays to God and finds favor with him, he sees God’s face and shouts for joy; he is restored by God to his righteous state.  Then he comes to men and says, “I sinned, and perverted what was right, but I did not get what I deserved.  He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit (grave), and I will live to enjoy the light.” Job 33:26-28 NIV

Terry Smith
Stephenville, TX

‘O Holy Night’

There are many songs that have been written to celebrate the coming of Jesus into our world.  During this season of the year, the birth of Jesus is upon the hearts of many.  As Christians, we should take advantage of this holiday.  For those of us who wear the name of Christ and want to share the gospel with our world, we should be excited for a holiday that is called CHRISTmas.  Every time the word is spoken, there is a reference to our ‘Christ’.

Many of the songs of this season contain some wonderful truths about Jesus’ coming.  Hark! The Herald Angels Sing reminds its singers that Jesus was pleased to dwell with men.  He was God become flesh—our Immanuel.  Because of His incarnation, God and man have been reconciled.  Finally, he was born that men may no more die, to give us a second birth, and to raise the sons of earth.  So, with the angels we sing, ‘Glory to the newborn King!’

Joy To The World reminds us that Jesus came to redeem mankind and the world from the curse that began in the garden of Eden.  The world has been groaning ‘as in the pains of childbirth’ awaiting the coming of the Redeemer.  We sing ‘No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found’.  This song reminds us that mankind and nature join in singing about the joy that Jesus has brought to our world.

Finally, O Holy Night is a call to worship and honor Jesus who entered our world to deal with sin.  He knows our need.  He is no stranger to our weaknesses.  The song urges us to ‘fall on our knees’.  It urges us to ‘bend lowly before Him’.

There have been days in our history that are unforgettable.  We celebrate July 4th every year.  December 7th is a day of infamy, according to President Roosevelt.  September 11th is a day Americans will never forget.  THE NIGHT WHEN JESUS WAS BORN CHANGED OUR WORLD.  Truly, it was a ‘holy’ night, because of the entrance of the Holy One into our world.

Prayer:  Father, thank you for sending Your Son into our world.  As we enjoy the Christmas season, help us as Christians use this season as a door of opportunity to help others recognize Christ for who He really is—the Savior of the world.  

Terry Brown

Abilene, Texas

Grownup Nativity Scenes

I was thumbing through a 2012 calendar the other day and something caught my eye.  Have you ever thought about how the birthdays of great people are depicted?  Every one of them, without exception, is depicted as an adult.  When we remember their birthdays, we think about a “grown person” and what they did as a grown person. 

This time of year you see a lot of nativity scenes.  I think the visuals stir us and make us more aware of the birth of Jesus.  I think it’s not reaching too far to suggest that when you say “Jesus” to virtually anybody this time of year, a “baby” is the first thing that comes to their mind.  It’s quickly followed by livery stable, shepherds, caroling angels and wise men bearing gifts.  And….? 

The birth of the Christ is often disconnected from the larger story, of which the birth is but the beginning.  His birth was accompanied by declarations and announcements that foretold the purpose of his coming.  His birth may be more aptly described as an “entry."  He was both divine and human and he was sent into our world for a purpose.  That’s what the prophets foretold centuries earlier.  And, that’s what the angel Gabriel said.  His small body was wrapped in swaddling clothes.  More importantly, his life was wrapped with a declaration for human beings.  His entry said something fantastic about human beings.  It also said something horrific about us.

Have you noticed how the gospel of John presents Christ’s birth?  He says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  All things came into being by Him.  And, apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.  In Him was life and the life was the light of men . . . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:1-3, 14).   John’s version doesn’t create the feelings of innocence and warmth that modern nativity scenes tend to create for us.  John takes us outside the familiar imagery of  nativity scenes.  Point?  There’s a lot more going on here than caroling angels, lowing cattle, and awestruck shepherds.  This baby would later say, “I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent me” (John 6:38). 

Every nativity scene should come accessorized with binoculars and a sign that reads,  “Please use these to look at who this child grows up to be.   

As we move about our respective towns over the next few days, may we look beyond the simple figurines and stage props of the various nativity scenes to the larger story that comes with the packaging of the birth story.  Yes, the Son of God entered our world.  The more pressing question is why?  To answer that question we have to pick up the binoculars and look down the road to see the man and his ministry.  In fact, that’s the most important part of the story.  For it is in his adult years that he paves the way through his teaching, suffering, sacrifice, resurrection and ascension into heaven for the blessings of hope, peace, and eternal life for any who would call upon His name in faith and obedience.  May such reflection bring the kind of awareness and awakening that God intended through Jesus' birth (entry!).     

Randy Daugherty
Stephenville, Texas