Reflection Sacrifice: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Do you find it emotionally too painful to consider Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for you alone?

2.     Do you believe that He would have gone to the cross for you alone? Why or why not?

3.     What keeps you hesitant to seek His forgiveness day to day? Or what keeps you anxious to seek His forgiveness day to day?

Share: What sacrificial gift of love have you received that changed your life?

Sacrifice: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 12:2, “endured the cross,”

When we see sacrificial acts given among us we are often humbled at the capacity of love shown. Especially when between strangers. And sometimes the question lingers how?

We get a glimpse of potential human compassion, of grace and mercy, and perhaps hope that when called upon we too can give beyond our measure.

Then we turn to Jesus’ sacrifice and that can become too painful to face. Because He endured His sacrifice for everyone. For all our sins. For my sins—the sin still alive and active in my everyday. So instead of gratitude I often turn away in shame and embarrassment that I have accepted His gift so carelessly. And miss His ongoing grace that restores—every time I ask.

Lord, please forgive us our part in Your suffering. Forgive our ongoing disobedience to Your healing grace. Instead of emotionally tuning out when we come to a time of sacrifice help us to care with Your heart and see through Your eyes of love.

Only in Your name can true love be given. Only in Your name can we become truly compassionate towards others. And recognize the truth behind the wonder.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 72:17-19

“May his name endure forever; May his name increase as long as the sun shines;

And let men bless themselves by him; Let all nations call him blessed.

Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who alone works wonders.

And blessed be His glorious name forever;

And may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen.”

Reflection Destitute: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     How willing would you be to become completely destitute by choice?

2.     Do you think the Lord might ask a partial form of ‘destitution’ in some areas of our lives? Why?

3.     Often during Lent we willingly give up something to remind us of sacrifice? When do you think our offering should instead become a permanent choice?

Share: How has God blessed you in a season of destitution?

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Genesis 16:9, “The angel of the Lord said to her, ‘Return to your mistress, and submit to her.’”

There are seasons of life when circumstances may cause us to face each day with dread, and yet we attempt to persevere. At least we may seem to as we continue to commit to regular daily obligations. We may not run away as Hagar did literally, so it seems we are managing.

Yet, often we run away emotionally and mentally, burying our feelings and creating even more stress within ourselves. We protect our personal discomfort or internal pain with a hard shell. Until it cracks under the stress and strain. Then we run in the wrong direction.

And God still goes with us ready to listen, to comfort, and to show us a new perspective, when we are willing to see our situations from His view instead of our own.

Showering us with His presence and promises no matter how dry and arid the landscape. Setting before us a new future that brings hope. Strengthening us daily by His words of truth—even the difficult ones.

He sees each of us as beloved children.

Lord, please help us to remember to hold your hand each day with the trust of a small child, knowing that You will see us through all the turmoil and dangers.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 50:14

“Offer to God a sacrifice of Thanksgiving,

And pay your vows to the Most High;

And call upon Me in the day of trouble;

I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.”

Kingdom Manna

Cost

Romans 12:1, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

Sacrifice.

Set before a holy God to appease

Seeking counsel

Sacrament of gratitude

Sealed in covenant

Steeped in ritual

Sovereign boundaries.

Substitute.

Sanctified by Christ, Savior’s gift given

Sacred strength

Spirit purifies hearts

Sanctuary open

Submissive to God’s grace

Sabbath worship daily.

Set apart.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 4:5

Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord.

Tabernacle

Scarlet

Sin hardened hearts

pump crimson blood

through our days

choose self-camouflage.

Stripped beaten body

wears scarlet robe

public denunciation

crushes sacrifice.

Sprinkled blood

whitens as snow

heart pours grace

covers every breath.

Matthew 27:28, “They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him.”

Tabernacle

Loaves

Two loaves the offering

day of proclamation

thanksgiving witness

to the Lord’s bounty

first fruits of each harvest.

Confession of praise

to His heritage

ongoing sacrifice

church body, broken bread

shared in remembrance.

1 Corinthians 10:16, “...Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?”

Tabernacle

Altar of Brass

Perfectly designed altar

exact measurements

to meet holy precepts.

Poured out of the heart

of High Priest

as sacrifice.

Decaying wood overlaid by defense

deliberately endured humiliation

defiled for our redemption

death now sanctified.

Perfectly prepared life

exact qualifications

to pass over sin.

Hebrews 13: 10-13, ..sacrifice for sin..”

Leaving Egypt Behind

Scripture: Exodus: 38:8, Moreover, he made the laver of bronze with its base of bronze, from the mirrors of the serving women who served at the doorway of the tent of meeting.

Before the priests could perform the sacrifices, they had to wash in the bronze laver. To remove the dust of the desert, before they came to God’s altar. Before the priests entered the holy place to serve God, they had to wash in the bronze laver. To cleanse themselves before coming to God in prayer.

Mirrors of bronze formed the base. Common materials given by the women who served in the doorway. When the water was clear, the priests could see themselves reflected in the liquid. But with daily dirt the water would become clouded.

Before Jesus’ Passover sacrifice, He poured water in a basin and washed the disciples feet.

Model My example, Jesus exhorted, wash one another’s feet. “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.” Serve God. Serve one another in love.

Before You entered my life, Lord, there was no cleanliness in me. Thank you for scrubbing out the grime. Please continue to wash me from the daily dust that clouds my relationship with You, blurring Your words.

“How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 26:6

I shall wash my hands in innocence,

And I will go about Thine altar, O Lord.

Leaving Egypt Behind

Scripture: Exodus 20:25, And if you make an altar of stone for Me, you shall not build it of cut stones, for if you wield your tool on it, you will profane it.

An altar of uncut stones, taken from the earth, God’s own creation, is the place of sacrifice God requested. An altar untarnished by man. An altar unsupplemented.

Abel brought before God a sacrifice that pleased Him. Cain brought first fruits that God rejected. Cain reacted in anger. Why, God asked. Beware. Sin crouches at your door.

Abraham withheld not his only son, Isaac. In faith he prepared the altar and God stayed his hand, substituting a ram. “The Lord will provide” Abraham declared. And God blessed him.

And now Moses is given detailed instructions for sacrifice, that he not in error profane worship or produce a man-made version of acceptable offerings.

Am I bringing to Your altar, Lord, my own definition of worship? Only You know what I need to lay before You. Only You can see what I need to place there to free my heart to serve wholly.

Keep me from rejecting Your true altar. Keep me from profaning worship, devotion and service by insisting on my choice instead of Yours. May I come to Your altar in obedience.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 43:4

Then I will go to the altar of God, To God my exceeding joy;