Brethren,

If any of the brethren have a song that they would like to upload that goes along with the theme of this devotion, or any other of my devotions, or a song that means a lot to you, please feel free to upload it.  All I request is that any song uploaded is traditional, or classical, in nature, and not Contemporary (CCM).

Also, if you have any comments, or a testimony, that you would like to give us, on this devotion, or on a previous devotion, please feel free to express yourself.

In Christ,

Alan

Brethren,

I do hope that the hymn, "There is  a Fountain Filled with Blood," by William Cowper, 1772, is a blessing to your heart as we remember the redeeming love of the Lord Jesus for the redemption of our soul.

Alan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3qebDnoaFQ

This devotional is a wonderful blessing!  Thank you for defining pertinent terms to refresh our memory and to help "drive home" the context.  Praise God for the exhortation of His Word!

I am very happy that the devotion was a blessing to you and edified your soul.

Brother Alan, A wonderful devotional message!  There was only one sentence with which I grappled (I tried to use the "quote this" option, but for some reason it was unavailable, so I copied/pasted your words instead): " Every man has a will and God wants our sacrifice to come from the voluntary will of the individual. "

I'm not sure exactly what you are saying here. I don't think of the things we do for the Lord as a sacrifice, but as a willing desire to do so (led by the Holy Spirit).  For instance I "gave up" secular television, it didn't feel like a sacrifice to me, but I believe I was being led by the Holy Spirit to "flee from that evil" .I don't miss it...matter of fact I'm ashamed I ever watched worldly television and wasted any time doing so. So it doesn't seem to me to be a sacrifice.  That's just a small example. I am certainly not trying to pick apart your above study. I was just wondering what you meant by the word "sacrifice" and could you please give me some examples so I can understand what sacrifices you speak of. I agree with the rest of the devotional, and especially the concluding thoughts on accepting Jesus' atoning sacrifice and having a heart of thankfulness.  No disrespect intended, I truly just need clarification. Thank you! And God bless you and your family as you serve the Lord. 

Ronda,

Thank you! I am very happy that the devotion was a blessing to you. I understand your question and can your point of view that our service for the Lord is not done as a sacrifice.

Here is my quote that you mentioned: "The sacrifices of the Old Testament Law, specifically the book of Leviticus, were to be brought on the voluntary will of the individual. Every man has a will and God wants our sacrifice to come from the voluntary will of the individual."

Before this quote I quoted Leviticus 1:3, “If the offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.” Leviticus 1:3

I am emphasizing that the sacrifices of the Jews were to be voluntary sacrifices: i. e., the individual brings the sacrifice on his own free will. The worshiper is not coerced or otherwise forced to bring, or offer, the sacrifice. I then emphasized that God, the Lord Jesus, wants us to 'sacrifice' due to our own free will: i. e., voluntary.

In the New Testament, under grace, our 'sacrifice' is a living sacrifice. Romans 12:1, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."  Please note that Paul says it is a 'sacrifice.' A sacrifice means that a person is going to part with, or do away with, or devote, something valuable, without thought of renumeration. A true sacrifice is not meant to be easy, or sometimes even a desirable, thing to do. 

The Lord Jesus taught this to the people and to His disciples, "And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." Mark 8:34. To serve the Lord Jesus, we need to, "deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Him." To deny our own comforts, our own aspirations, our own family, our own country, and take up a cross and follow Jesus is a sacrifice in the literal and spiritual realm.

Permit me to give a personal example. After the Lord called me to be a missionary while serving in the military I came back to the States and found a good church. In order to live overseas in some countries is extremely difficult, and in order to preach the gospel to people who do not accept any biblical doctrine (ancestor worshipers, Buddhists, Taoists, and other mystical Eastern religions),  would entail a sacrifice. The includes the wife of the missionary denying her own family and country. While attending this church (my first time in a  good, independent, Baptist, church), I noticed that after the Christian ladies my age knew I was going to be a missionary they ignored me. Why? They were fine young Christian ladies that loved the Lord and desired to serve the Lord, but, they did not want to go to a heathen land. The living overseas was too much of a sacrifice.

The same thing happened in Bible College ( which I will forbear to mention). Quite a few of the young fine, Christian ladies who desired to serve the Lord thought being a missionary was too much of a 'sacrifice.' It took me awhile to find a nice wife that was willing to spend the rest her life, or sacrifice, her life overseas.

You are correct in that we should desire to give things up and live for the Lord and at times these are not really sacrifices. Both me and my wife 'desire' to be missionaries, but, it is a 'sacrifice.'

I do hope my own thoughts helped you understand why I wrote my devotion in that particular way.

Alan

Thank you so much, brother Alan, for explaining...and it makes perfect sense now!!! I'm sorry to have disrupted the study with my question, but I'm glad I asked since I now understand exactly what the reference to "sacrifice" was (Romans 12:1).  Very excellent study! And thank you again for the courteous answer. It was edifying to me. I pray the Lord will bless and keep you (and your entire family) in your devotion in mission work. Thank you again!!!

Ronda,

I do appreciate your thoughts and the time and effort in asking for clarification. You have not disrupted anything but added some fine thoughts to the devotion and study. 

Alan

Brethren,

The plant in this photo is called the, "Spider Lily." Proverbs 4:23, "Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life." 

The photo is not copyrighted and it is my hope that the photo may be used for your enjoyment and edification.

Alan

Why would anyone in their right mind choose heaven over hell? Or . . . why would anyone reject the free gift of Eternal life? I suppose human autonomy plays a huge role in all of this. They think that Hell is one big party where the devil is the DJ.

The Gift of Christ is for all -- but all do not accept it. Everyone has been given the ability to accept the Gift: free will, the very image of God. But not all choose to use that ability to honor Him and to return a humble response to the One who sacrificed more than we will ever know that we might be saved. Some use that very free will to throw the Gift of Christ back in the Father's face. Praise be to God that life is short! Who would want to live in this miserable, temporary world forever? Answer: the devil and unbelievers who want the benefits of what God has done but without acknowledging Him as God, without bowing the knee to Jesus Christ. But in the end, every knee shall bow before Him. (Is. 45:23; Rom. 14:11; Phil. 2:10).

God is merciful and perfectly so. God is love, and completely so. God is not at fault -- God forbid! But people are arrogant. They want the blessings of God while remaining gods unto themselves. Life may be short, but it is plenty long enough in each and every case for someone in question to demonstrate by their words, actions and thoughts what is really in their hearts. Those who return God's great love by responding with faith in Jesus Christ are saved. Those who never were willing to do so go to hell -- of their own free will choice. This will be made VERY clear at the last judgment where every thought and intent of every heart will be revealed (Matt. 10:26; Mk. 4:22; Lk. 2:35; Eccl. 12:14: Rom. 2:16; Cor. 4:5a; Rev. 20:11-15), and it will be shown that these arrogant people are without excuse and that their defenses were defenses of clay  in the face of the light of the glory of God. God has mercy on those who are willing to receive it. Those who won't will be thrown in the Lake of Fire and brimstone where they will spend an Eternity separate from the One whom they rejected.

God Bless!

Daniel,

Thank you for your discussion on the Gift of Christ. It is a welcomed addition to this devotion.

May the Lord bless all of you.

Alan