Give it up, Make a Sacrifice~ in His Word 11-11-24
Today is Veteran’s Day in the US. A day when we reflect on
the sacrifice our men and woman have made through out generations of our
nation, to keep our nation a free one. To give us our freedom that rings loud
when we have attitudes and often stays calm when we forget about it. So many
people literally gave their lives for our safety. To give us the right to be
who we want to be. Often our sacrifices include other nations safety as well.
We are the Americans we help other nations partly because we have ancestors
from there!
Today I also like to reflect on the one Sacrifice that was
for all nations and all people. Jesus our Lord and Savior. God sent a part of Himself,
to consider a sacrifice for our sins. He
gave up a lot even before that! In
Genesis 8, the story of Noah, shows us God sacrificing His anger when he said
he would no longer destroy every living thing because of the ignorance and
iniquity of the human race. Let’s face it the way things were back then is not
too different from now and yet He does
not wipe us all out with one wave of His and or even a finger! He allows us to
wallow until we ask for help but what I figure is that He is sacrificing His
anger!
We can do the same thing.
And the Lord was pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice and
said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of the human
race, even though everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil from
childhood. I will never again destroy all living things. Genesis 8:21
When we get upset at people, angry even, it can be easier to
scream and yell than to hold it back. I’m not saying just take it when people
are mean to you, more like choose your battles. Sacrifice a bit of what you
want to keep the peace.
For instance, we can share space with someone even when we want
it all to our selves so that someone is kept safe, or happy even.
But I say, if you are
even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an
idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse
someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.
“So, if you are
presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember
that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go
and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.
Matthew 5:22-24
Just as God teaches in His Word for us to get over our anger
and make things right, when we sacrifice our anger for peace, we can cleanse
our hearts from the animosity that is piling up there. Yes, read that word again.
There are a lot of people who just save up their anger and pretend not to be
mad. The anger then piles up inside. It can cause ulcers, or headaches, or
tears. Depending on the extent of the anger piling up the wrath of God may seem
small in comparison to when it is unleashed. We can’t keep it in forever, so it
is going to explode eventually and we probably will hurt someone’s feelings in
the process. This is to say do not hold it in!
So what do you do when
you decide to put aside the anger you have toward someone so you can
live peaceably?
Get on your knees of course!
Pack up your worry, your anger, your concerns and pass it
off to Jesus!
Hey, I know that is not always easy, but here’s an object
lesson! Go get a draw string back pack from the nearest Dollar store. Then take
some paper and write all of the things you can’t seem to let go of. Dig deep in
your heart and be honest with yourself. Then take the paper tear it up as you
pray and ask God to take it from you. To heal , forgive, direct you in how to
go forward with these things. Then put it in the bag and draw up the string and
tie a knot so it wont come back out!
Then to toss it in the trash!
Or if you think you will need to add to it, put it in the
darkest spot of the closet or up on the highest shelf where you will not go
back to pull out those things! The idea is that you have given it to God, do
not take it back! Let Him deal with the people,
places, or things that are bothering you enough to cause you to have that lump,
that wad of anger, or judgement. Give it up as a sacrifice of healing, peace
and hope. Let go and let God do it!
That is the sacrifice!
Let go!- the pride of "But I was right to..."
Let go!- The self righteousness.
Let go!- The desire to do what you want, and replace that with what God wants for you.
Then take time to worship and thank Jesus for His ultimate
sacrifice that gives us the opportunity to give up our pains, and other issues.
Give it up to Him, and thank Him for it! Give Him honor, glory and praise!
Just like we do for our military today, only even more!
In Jesus’ name,
Teresa Wilson