Freedom Through Sacrifice

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“Freedom is a gift available to every person in the world. Is not a freedom of religion or speech. It is something better than all those? It is a freedom of the soul. How can one obtain this for themselves? Through the blood of Jesus.”

Freedom. It is a gift available to every person in the world regardless of race, income, education, culture, or what type of government they live under. It is not a freedom of religion or speech. It is something better than all those? A prisoner once remarked, “I am freer in here, than I ever was out there.” What is he talking about? A freedom of the soul.

How can one obtain this for themselves? Through the blood of Jesus. Read what Matthew, one of His disciples wrote, “And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’” (Matthew 26:27-28)

Perhaps you have participated in a solemn act of worship in the church that goes by different names. The Lord’s Supper, The Eucharist, Communion, The Lord’s Table. It contains a significant feature: the cup. Jesus gave the meaning of it when He said, “for this is my blood of the covenant…”

Why is the blood of Jesus necessary in order to receive divine forgiveness? Because of the severity of sin. The Lord God is the Creator and Judge of all humanity and has a moral law, of which all are held to account. Have you entertained a selfish thought? Have you used God’s name as a curse word? Have you bore a grudge against someone? God tells us that if we violate just one of His many laws we are condemned to eternal death. Since all of us have, from the first man and woman until now, then all of us are under this sentence.

There is only one way humanity can be saved from this everlasting punishment. It is not by religion, trying to be morally upright or through service to others. God has declared it must come through a sacrifice. There is no other way. And not just any sacrifice. It must be a perfect one. In other words, we ourselves, are not good enough. It must be someone more holy, virtuous and honorable than you. This leaves only one man standing – Jesus.

When He left heaven and came to earth, He was on a mission. One to sacrifice Himself and pour out His blood for you and me. And His blood was not that of a mere man. Human sacrifice God forbids. Instead, as strange as it may sound, it was the blood of the Son of God. And it was not a forced sacrifice. No! It was a willing one, where He chose to lay His life down, and it came from a heart filled with love and mercy for the whole world.

Every drop of Jesus’ blood that came from the crown of thorns, the whips on His back, the blows to His head, the nails in His hands and feet and a spear in His side – every drop was a sacrifice for you. It was to spare you from the wrath of Almighty God against your disobedience. It was to cleanse you from the stain of your sin, and remove its divine penalty.

When the cup is taken in honor of the blood He shed, it is a symbolic and worshipful remembrance of His sacrifice. And the benefits of this holy work are available to all. It is both free and costly. Free, meaning you can do nothing to earn or deserve it, but it will cost something that is most valuable to you – your life.

Remember, God requires life for life. Jesus shed His blood for you, so you must lay down your life for Him. How do you do that? By turning from your sin and to Christ by faith, with all your heart. Not 10% or 50%, but 100% of your heart. Are you ready? Freedom is moments away!

A prayer for you. “Holy and Glorious God! We praise you for your most precious sacrifice – your only begotten Son. Thank you for His blood that was shed for the whole world. Today, bring people to cry out to you, to be cleansed and set free by its power. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Outpouring of The Grace of God

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“When an outpouring of God comes, it is a demonstration of His grace. It just comes in His timing, His way and to those whom He chooses. It comes to bring growth and renewal to the believer. It comes to wash clean the sins of the lawless and forgive the hard-hearted.”

People randomly falling on their face before God in prayer and worship. Church services being interrupted and extended due to an unusual experience of the presence of the Lord. Lives being saved from their sins in mass without much resistance.

On occasion in history, there have been unique movements of God like this, that bring souls unto Him in supernatural and almost unexplainable ways. What is happening in seasons of a time like this? God’s grace is being poured out in abundance. The Bible says of mankind’s Savior, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” (Romans 10:20)

None of us were born with a natural inclination to pursue God. Nor has anyone ever had an instinctive desire from birth to be morally upright, and automatically tell the truth, forgive those who have offended them or put the needs of others above themselves. This is not who we inherently are. Rather, it is normal for us to be people who get angry, envy others, or not even think of God at all. Left to ourselves, we are disobedient to God, unholy and evil-hearted people, doing whatever is right in our own eyes.

So how do we get to a place where people are seeking God and lives are being eternally changed? Let me repeat the Scripture, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” Men and women, who have no inherit desire for the Almighty, are transformed by God’s passionate pursuit of them.

When they were busy living for themselves, He came to them. When they were in the midst of their religious routines, He came to them. When they were pursuing their own unholy desires, God came to them.

There was once a man named Zacchaeus who lived in the city of Jericho. He was a wealthy tax collector. One day Jesus came passing through. As He did, word spread quickly and crowds were formed. Zacchaeus, a small guy, searched for a tree to climb, so He could see Jesus. And as the story goes, “…when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” (Luke 19:5) As a result of his time with Jesus, Zacchaeus’ life, along with his whole household, was changed. How did this outpouring of the salvation of God happen? By His grace.

Grace refers to a gift from God, that is not earned or deserved. While Zacchaeus was busy working and building his corrupt wealth, Jesus was already on His way. Before Zacchaeus knew he had a need, Jesus came to the tree he was watching from, and called him by name. Zacchaeus was not worthy of anything from God, yet Jesus came for him.

When an outpouring of God comes, it is a demonstration of His grace. It is something we have not earned or deserved. It just comes in His timing, His way and to those whom He chooses. It comes to bring growth and renewal to the believer. It comes to wash clean the sins of the lawless and forgive the hard-hearted.

What are we to do when the grace of God comes? Recognize it and respond, just like Zacchaeus. That can be both simple and hard. Avoid being like the critics in Zacchaeus’ story though. They were dismissive, and spoke evil of what was happening.

Is God drawing you right now? Is He calling you by name? Open your spiritual eyes. Do you see Him at work in your life this minute? Is He speaking to you through someone? Respond to His grace! Stop resisting. Yield fully to Him.

A prayer for you. “Lord God, open our spiritual eyes to see you at work. Help us to stop resisting and start responding. Come to those who have not asked for you. Come to all of us who are not worthy of you. Show yourself O, God. Pour out your grace upon us this hour. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

 

St. Patrick: One Man Fully Committed

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“Ireland, in Patrick’s day, was an evil and dangerous place. Patrick recounted in his writings, The Confession, saying "I am ready to be murdered, betrayed, enslaved -- whatever may come my way." Why? For the cause of Christ.”

Have you ever really committed yourself to something? It seems to be a rare find in people. Most of us want what is easy. Some are comfortable the way life is. Others cannot stay focused on a goal, because the fun stuff keeps getting in the way.

Are you familiar with Patrick, otherwise known as St. Patrick? He is an inspiration to the committed, and a challenge to those who are not.

Patrick was born British and lived 385-461 A.D. His parents were very religious, but he wanted nothing to do with their faith. As a teenager, his life dramatically changed when an Irish mob abducted and sold him into slave labor in Ireland. For six years he served as a shepherd watching over his master’s sheep. During that season of quiet suffering, he came to know the God of his parents. Eventually, he was led by the Lord to escape slavery in miraculous fashion, and made his way back home. There Patrick prepared for a career in ministry. In time, he was convicted by God that he must return to the land of his slavery and spread the good news of Christ. He boarded a boat that took him to the shores of Ireland; this time of his own choosing. The day he stepped onto Irish shores began 29 years of a legendary mission.

Ireland in Patrick’s day was an evil and dangerous place. Knowing this in advance, Patrick recounted in his writings, The Confession, saying "I am ready to be murdered, betrayed, enslaved -- whatever may come my way." It was an epic battle of light versus darkness which made for mythical type stories that followed Patrick’s work. Upon his death in 461 A.D., light had won the battle setting a new course for the Irish. God used Patrick to see over 120,000 people baptized and 300 churches planted.

Patrick was one man, wholly dedicated to Christ. Through his full commitment, God changed a nation.

Is the life of Patrick normal for anyone who follows Jesus? Yes and no. No, in the sense that God in His wisdom, chooses certain people for certain missions. Not everyone will travel to another country. Not everyone will change a nation. Not everyone has the same gifts, talents and experiences. We are all different, which should be celebrated rather than compared. But yes, in the sense of what the Bible lays out as a standard for all Christians.

Where did Patrick get his commitment from? Read what Jesus explained to His disciples about what was going to happen to Him, “And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.” (Matthew 20:18-19) Jesus undertook His mission fully knowing the cost. It sounds like Patrick was influenced by Christ.

But you say, “I am not Jesus, nor am I Patrick. How does Jesus want me to live?” Read these words He spoke to His disciples as Jesus lovingly looked each one of them in the eyes, “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” (Matt. 10:37-39)

Jesus is clear. There is a cost to following Him. A person must be willing to humble themselves before Him as both Savior of their sins, and Lord of their life. This is the price of a Christian. Total devotion of his life under the Lordship of Jesus. This is the example He gave us through His cross. As Jesus lovingly yielded all for you, He calls you to yield all for Him. Will you, today?

A prayer for you. “Lord God, thank you for the life of Patrick. Through his life of faithfulness, teach us be fully committed to you. Nothing less. Point out anything that is hindering an unswerving dedication to you, that we might confess and turn from it. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”