Posts Tagged ‘ Sacrifice ’
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.
Ephesians 6:12, CSB
Christ is our example of love, and He demonstrated love by not lashing out against humans but against sin and satanic powers. We now love others and turn to Christ and His Word to combat evil.
“for I satisfy the thirsty person and feed all those who are weak.”
Jeremiah 31:25, CSB
Christ is our example of love, even caring for those who hate Him or simply ignore Him as well as those who love Him. Let us love each other and the spiritually, emotionally, and physically weak around us.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.
Romans 8:18, CSB
Christ is our example of love, enduring even hatred and persecution to bring others to the knowledge of His love and the hope of eternal life with Him.
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Mark 10:45, CSB
Christ is our example of love, serving others sacrificially to bring them into a saving relationship with God.
So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
John 13:14, CSB
God is in us by the Holy Spirit, empowering us to love and serve like Jesus did: sacrificially and humbly, with a boldness from God.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.
Romans 12:1, CSB
God has come to us, sacrificing Himself for our forgiveness, so we ought to give our lives to serve Him and share this good news.
No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13, CSB
Christ has freed us, and He has freed us from sin by His own blood and from the terror of God by calling us friends.
One of the funniest moments of the 2003 film “Elf” was Buddy the Elf seeing a feral raccoon, spreading out his arms, and asking, “Does someone need a hug?” (It did not go well.)
Something I like to tell people is that on January 9, 2000, Jesus hugged me in welcome to His Family. On July 26, 2000, I finally returned the hug.
It is nice to think about receiving a comforting hug when life feels overwhelming, things are generally crazy, or having just gone through a horrible situation.
It is also nice to look back through the Bible and see how God has been there for His people:
In the Exodus, God said He rescued Israel with a mighty hand and outstretched arm (Exodus 6:6; Deuteronomy 4:34, 5:15, 7:19; Psalm 136:12).
Within Israel and their Exile, God welcomes those who come to Him humbly and for His glory (1 Kings 8:41-43; 2 Chronicles 6:32-33; Ezekiel 20:34).
We can see how God has been taking care of His people, yes even under judgment at times.
What is the most comforting is that God came to us to take the punishment we deserve for disobedience. He promised to do this when He spoke with Abraham 4,000 years ago (Genesis 15), and there are so many places that it is laid out in the Hebrew Scriptures (such as Genesis 22, Psalm 22, and Daniel 9:26).
Good Friday is good, because we see the Creator, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who saw all the sinfulness of this world, come to us in the midst of our fear, pain, and anxiety. The one who stretched out His arm with His might hands came to comfort us with those strong arms and hands.
So, on that terrible Friday 2,000 years ago, Jesus opened His arms for us. We are the feral raccoons, rooting around in garbage and attacking the God who loves us. He took the punishment we deserved, holding back God’s wrath for those of us who will believe.
Yet this same God who took on His own wrath, with those same strong, mighty, scarred arms, reaches out to us to hold us and comfort us.
When we look at the cross, we see God opening His arms to us.
This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Matthew 26:28, NIV
Christ has freed us from sin by His sacrifice. He has saved us from God’s wrath and freed us to live for Him.
So he got up from supper, laid aside his outer clothing, took a towel, and tied it around himself. Next, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around him.
John 13:4-5, CSB
Christ has freed us, including from focusing on ourselves so that we can love others better, to love like Jesus loves us.
a simple man of God 