“The Goodly Sacrafice.”
Penned by Brother Jimmy Molands
Inspired by The HOLY SPIRIT
“Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel, and ass. (1 Samuel 15:3)
What was the difference between Saul and King David? They had both sinned against THE LORD. Saul kept the best of the sheep, camel, and ox to sacrifice to THE LORD (which, from a humanistic view (a fleshly view), would not be considered that bad).
David, on the other hand, killed Bathsheba’s husband so he could steal his wife. Yet, he did not lose the kingdom like Saul (1 Samuel 15:26).
There is a difference in what we sacrifice. Many talented people are gifted. There is nothing wrong with the talent itself, but the wrong comes when we don’t yield that talent to GOD. Many musicians and singers have great voices. But it doesn’t make any difference if the living sacrifice is absent. You can have a perfect pitch and hit every note, and it can even sound great, but if it is empty of THE SPIRIT of GOD, then it is no more than a “goodly sacrifice.”
The difference between Saul and David is that David loved THE LORD and Saul loved himself. He was more concerned about what others were thinking about him (1Samuel 15:24). Instead of denying himself, he denied THE LORD and rebelled against HIM.
We are just instruments. There is nothing wrong with the instrument per se, but who controls it? The CHRISTian life is about allowing GOD to have complete control of our lives (Romans 6:13). We do this by yielding that life to GOD, which is your reasonable service (Romans 12:1). By yielding that life, we say to THE LORD we love HIM above everything else, which is the faith that trusts HIM implicitly. This is true self-denial.
Many get confused about “surrendering all to HIM.” It is a one-time act that never has to be repeated. An immensely important decision that forever changes your life. Once given, the life now belongs to HIM. HE doesn’t return the gift because we are having a bad day or sometimes wish we hadn’t (which I have been guilty of myself). HE takes the life and does whatever HE wants with it. It is yielded as an instrument of HIS choosing. Let’s settle this now. Our entire being belongs to HIM – that is total surrendering!
So you see, the difference between Saul and David is that Saul wanted to save something of himself. Instead of laying everything on the altar, he kept back the “goodly sacrifice,” the pleasant self, the nice self, but all self must go to the cross, for in it dwells no good thing (Romans 7:18). Let us choose to love JESUS this day by laying everything on the altar and Glorify only HIM.
Amen
Charles Spurgeon's Corner
Where YOU Are LORD - That Is Where I Want To Be
Penned by Minister Charles Spurgeon
Inspired by The HOLY SPIRIT
Tell me…where THOU feedest, where THOU makest THY flock to rest at noon. – Song of Solomon 1:7
I want to rename this writing by Minister Charles Spurgeon – “Where You Are LORD, That Is Where I Want To Be.”
These words express the desire of the believer to follow CHRIST and his longing for present communion with HIM. Where do YOU feed YOUR flock? In YOUR house? I will go if I find YOU there. In private prayer? Then, I will pray without ceasing. In the WORD? Then, I will read it diligently. In YOUR Commandments? Then, I will walk in them with all my heart.
Tell me where YOU feed, for wherever YOU stand as THE SHEPHERD, there will I lie down as a sheep, for none but YOU can supply my need.
I cannot be satisfied to be apart from YOU. My soul hunger and thirsts for the refreshment of YOUR Presence. “Where do YOU make YOUR flock to rest at noon?” For whether it is at dawn or at noon, my only rest must be where YOU are and YOUR beloved flock. My soul’s rest must be a grace-given rest, and it can be found only in YOU. Where is the shadow of that ROCK? Why should I not repose underneath it? “Why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of THY companions?” (Song of Solomon 1:7). YOU have companions – why should I not be one?
satan tells me that I am unworthy, but I always was unworthy. Yet, YOU have long loved me; therefore, my unworthiness cannot be a barrier to my having fellowship with YOU now. It is true I am weak in faith and prone to fall, but my very feebleness is the reason why I should always be where YOU feed YOUR flock, so that I may be strengthened and preserved in safety beside the still waters.
Why should I turn away from YOU? There is no reason why I should, but there are a thousand reasons why I should not, for JESUS beckons me to come. If HE withdrew HIMSELF a little, it was only to make me prize HIS Presence more. Now that I am grieved and distressed at being away from HIM, HE will lead me once again to that sheltered nook where the lambs of HIS fold are shielded from the burning sun. Amen.
Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread
Penned by Pastor Bobbi Cloyd
Inspired by The HOLY SPIRIT
What exactly does this verse mean? We pray it without actually considering what we are asking of GOD. I pray THE LORD’s prayer at least twice a day, but what am I asking HIM when I say, “Give me this day, LORD, my daily bread.” Does GOD owe me something? GOD forbid that I should ever think this of GOD. Then is HE supposed to give me a daily portion of bread? What does this mean? The LORD tells us in HIS WORD to be careful what we say to HIM because HE is GOD. Ecclesiastes 5:2, “Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before GOD, for GOD is in Heaven and thou upon earth. Therefore, let thy words be few.” Okay, LORD, what am I really asking of you – because I am asking but I am not sure what I am saying?
When we ask THE LORD to give us this day – our daily bread – we are asking THE LORD to give us whatever is required on this day. LORD, please give us substance, grace, mercy, strength, compassion, love, health, and all that we need to make it through this day.
In this one verse, we ask GOD for a lot—our daily portion—just to live—just to make it through one more day in the land of the living.
Just like GOD provided for the Hebrew children in the wilderness, – HE provides for all of us each and every day. Not just food and water, but all that we need.
Yes, LORD, give us this day, our daily bread, in JESUS’ NAME. Amen and Amen.