More Than A Sacrifice

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Chapters: Psalms 38-42
Message: More Than A Sacrifice

Hello My Friend,

When I heard the devastating news that forty-nine people were dead when a guy went on a shooting rampage, I could not help, but wonder if any of them were saved. It is tragedies like these that remind us that life can end in an instant, Jesus loves all of us, regardless of our sin, He died a sinless death so that we could live. I imagine He cries every time a person dies that has not received Him, if they just trusted Him they would be with Him right now. When we trust the Saviour, He blesses us with more than salvation from hell, He blesses us with a new life. “Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.” - Psalms 40:4,5.

David wrote this Psalm to remind himself that God is still merciful even when we mess up. Sin is destructive, people die in their sins every day, but do not realize what they are doing. When we belong to God, the guilt of sin carries a big burden, and while we should repent of our sins, it is good to be reminded that God is still faithful and merciful. “A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance. O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore. There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God. For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin. But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied. They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.” - Psalms 38:1-4,15, 18-20.

“as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.” Sometimes we carry this burden around with us that never quite goes away, perhaps something we did in the past. Guilt from sin is harder to overcome than sin itself, but we must understand that when we confess our sins, Jesus carries that burden for us. There is nothing more comforting to take our cares to Jesus, He loves us, He died for us so we do not have to suffer in our sins, all we have to do to free ourselves from the guilt of sin is confess them, and get under His wing. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - I John 1:9.

The tongue. There is nothing more destructive than the tongue, especially if we are dwelling on something that happened to us long ago. It is easy to speak harsh words to those in our presence when we are holding on to something of the past. David wrote this Psalm to keep himself from sinning with his tongue. “To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred. My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue, LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.” - Psalms 39:1-5.

“while I was musing the fire burned:” Musing, meditating. Sometimes our mouths commit more sin than we do with our actions. I swear my mouth always gets the best of me when I am irritated, which is when I find myself thinking of the things in my past. I have this habit of comparing those in my past with those in my future, just sure that this person is like the one who caused me such pain. When I focus on Jesus, He removes the irritation and helps me think good things before I speak. While the tongue can be destructive, it can also be helpful, there is nothing more comforting than to speak words of encouragement to those who need it. “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” - I Corinthians 2:12,13.

To make haste means to hurry, the second we go to God in prayer, whether it is to seek forgiveness of sins, a need, or a healing, God gets right on it. Now, it may seem as though He is not doing anything, but part of getting things right with God is having patience to endure the affliction as He is working. David knew this and while he did not always understand why he had to wait so long, he did understand that God had done some wonderful things in his life.

“Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation. Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me. For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me. Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.” - Psalms 40:6-13.

“Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire;” This is an amazing reminder that while God knows we are sinners, more important than a sacrifice is trusting Him, taking all our burdens to Him, confessing our sin. You know, for those who do not know Jesus Christ, their book of life has thousands of sins written down, the first one being that they never received Him. For those who do know Him, they have no sin in their book, it is wiped clean, what is in it is all the things we did as ministers of God, and that is what we will be rewarded on, not our sin. “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” - Revelation 22:12.

Do you think David did not get a little down at times? The Psalms prove otherwise. For about 10 years he remained in exile, constantly on the move from Saul who was trying to kill him. One thing David learned was that he must continually praise and glorify God, even through his affliction. “O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God? Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” - Psalms 42:6-11.

“hope thou in God:” No matter what we are going through, whether it is something we did to ourselves or for no reason at all, God is our hope, and He will see us through. Sometimes it may seem as though God is a million miles away, but He is right with us. We just need to awaken His Spirit by renewing ours. How? Sing praises to God and get in His Word. We will find hope and healing when we get to God in the way that He wants us to. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” - Romans 15:4,13.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today, Jesus is revealed through the rock of David. Jesus is the only Rock upon which we stand that saves a hell bound soul.

Today's Prayer: God, Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus to take our place on the cross, to give us a way to be cleansed and free from the guilt and destruction of our sins. You could have chosen any other way to redeem us and let us become one of yours, but You gave Your flesh so that we can live forever with You. Lord, I want to live a life that is pleasing to you, I know I am going to mess up, but more than a sacrifice You want my trust, my faith, my love in return, so that when I do mess up I know I am a forgiven child of Yours and nothing can change that. Lead me and guide me, let me be an example and encouragement to others, and let me not pass up anyone who needs to know Your Son. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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