CLM-0-062 d Spiritual Sacrifices

From: "Clergy Mail List"

Mon, 27 Mar 2000

 
Clergy/Leaders' Mail-list No. 0-062

Here's another daily meditation from my book of devotions       
'Sunrise Sunset' (HarperCollins/Harper San Francisco).          
Feel free to use/adapt it.

Rowland Croucher 

--------------------                                               
SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES                                                
--------------------

A royal priesthood... to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to 
God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5.  

What do these Christian priests - all of us together - do?

Peter says we offer spiritual and acceptable sacrifices to God 
through Jesus Christ (2:5).  We 'obey' Jesus Christ (1:3).  What 
are these sacrifices we're offering together? Various Scriptures 
provide some clues.  Peter says (2:5) they take place in a 
'spiritual house'.  I think he has Isaiah 56:7 in mind here: 'My 
house is a house of prayer'.  

In Revelation 8:3 we find the saints - 'holy ones' - offering with 
the incense, their prayers.  If you read Revelation 8 sometime 
you'll see how these sacrificial prayers change the destiny of the 
world.  Then Hebrews 13:15 talks about 'the sacrifice of praise', 
and Romans 12:1 enlarges the concept to include our whole beings, 
ourselves, everything.  Philippians 2:17 refers to the 'sacrifice 
of your faith'.  These's also the sacrifice of service: 'Do good 
... for with such sacrifices God is well pleased' (Hebrews 13:16).  

We don't offer animal, but rather human sacrifices - everything we 
are and everything we do, everything which will please God and 
honour him, and advance us in a life of holiness.  That's why Peter 
stresses obedience as the first outcome of holiness he mentions 
(1:3).  Indeed, the Holy Spirit is only given to those who 'obey 
God' (Acts 5:32).  

I offer to you, Lord, my sacrifices of prayer, praise, faith and 
service: may my whole life be an acceptable sacrifice to you. Amen. 

Shalom!   

      Rowland Croucher                   
      Personal Home Page - http://home.mira.net/~rowlandc

     John Mark Ministries - resources for pastors/leaders
  (Bookroom,  library, and worldwide F.W.Boreham Trading Post)
  http://www.pastornet.net.au/jmm (3220+ articles 1000+ links)


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