First Obey

Leviticus 9:6 & 24

And Moses said, "This is what the LORD has commanded you to do so that the glory of the LORD may appear to you."...Fire blazed forth from the LORD'S presence and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When the people saw this, they shouted with joy and fell face down on the ground.

If I expect to see the Lord at work in my life, then I need to be doing what he has commanded me to do. We cannot expect to see the glory without first being obedient.

1 Samuel 15:22-23

But Samuel replied:

"What is more pleasing to the LORD:

your burnt offerings and sacrifices

or your obedience to his voice?

Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice,

and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.

Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft,

and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols.

So because you have rejected the command of the LORD,

he has rejected you as king."

Lord, help me to always be obedient to what you tell me to do. I obey you because I know and love you. And because I want more of your presence in my life. I want to please you, Lord. I want to live in constant sweet fellowship with you. In Jesus' name, amen.

MEMORY VERSES

Christ Paid the Penalty

1 Peter 3:18

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.

1 Peter 3:18

Christ Paid the Penalty

Christ Paid the Penalty

1 Timothy 2:5

For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 2:5

Christ Paid the Penalty

My Peace Offering

Leviticus 3:1
"If you present an animal from the herd as a peace offering to the Lord, it may be a male or female, but it must have no defects."

Peace offerings were given to show gratitude to God and to continue in fellowship with him. Lord, you have given me such extravagant love and blessings, I don't want my expression of thankfulness to be cheap. Just as David refused to present a burnt offering to You, that cost him nothing, Lord, my gift of gratitude should not cost me nothing.

2 Samuel 24:24
But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on buying it, for I will not present burnt offerings to the LORD my God that have cost me nothing."

Lord, years ago, you used this very verse in 2 Samuel to speak to me about getting up earlier to spend time with you. I believe that you are saying the same thing to me again. I still haven't learned this lesson.

Lord, you know how precious my sleep is to me. Yet, YOU are even MORE precious to me. Help me to put my sinful flesh to death and get up earlier in spite of how tired I may be. I praise you for how you have spoken to me! In Jesus' wonderful name, amen.

MEMORY VERSE

Christ Paid the Penalty

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

Christ Paid the Penalty

One Way

John 14:6

Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."

Jesus, you are the only way to eternal life. You are the only way to the Father. Only what you did on the cross gave us access to the Father.

Hebrews 9:13-15

Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people's bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under the first covenant.

Hebrews 9:22

In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.

Leviticus 17:11

for the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the LORD. It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible.

Thank you, Jesus, for giving your blood and exchanging your life for mine so that I can be made pure. Nothing impure can ever enter God's presence. Your sacrifice has purified my conscience from sinful deeds so I can now boldly come to the throne of grace and worship the living God.

MEMORY VERSES

James 1:19-21

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters. You must be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

James 1:19-21

John 12:49-50

"I don't speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say."

John 12:49-50

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

Jesus, My Sacrifice

John 10:17-18

"The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded."

There were a few times when the mobs tried to kill Jesus. At least once in this very chapter. But Jesus always slipped away - until it was the right time. Then Jesus could have called on legions of angels to protect him, but he didn't.

Matthew 26:53-54

"Don't you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?"

When Jesus was on trial before Pilate, he told Pilate that the only reason he had the power to kill him was because God was allowing it.

John 19:10-11

"Why don't you talk to me?" Pilate demanded, "Don't you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?"

Then Jesus said, "You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. So the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin."

Thank you, Jesus, for laying down your life for me! And thank you for not staying in that grave! You broke the power of sin and death over my life! I praise your holy name! In Jesus' name, amen.

MEMORY VERSES

James 1:14-15

Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. Those desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

James 1:14-15

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

Who Does He Think He Is?

John 1:24:25

Then the Pharisees who had been sent asked him, "If you aren't the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?"

According to the footnotes in my Bible, there was a sect of Jews called the Essenes who would baptize Gentiles when they converted to Judaism. So the Pharisees wanted to know why John, who was baptizing Jews, was treating Jews like lowly Gentiles. John's answer was that his baptism was merely symbolic of the repentance of the people who came to him. When Jesus - the Messiah - came, he would forgive the people who repented of their sins and also baptize them with the Holy Spirit.

John 1:29

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

Thank you, Jesus, for being my sacrificial lamb! Only your blood could wash away my sin. 

THIS WEEK'S MEMORY VERSES

Zechariah 11:11

The suffering flock was watching me, and they knew that the LORD was speaking through my actions.

Zechariah 11:11

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

Love Not Sacrifice

Proverbs 6:4

Don't put it off; do it now! Don't rest until you do.

Proverbs 6:4

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

Matthew 9:12-13

When Jesus heard this, he said, "Healthy people don't need a doctor -- sick people do." Then he added, "Now go and learn the meaning of this scripture. 'I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.' For I have come not to call those who think they are righteous but those who know they are sinners."

The Pharisees were so caught up in their self-righteous sacrifices to God that they totally missed the true purpose of worship, which is to know God and to show mercy to others.

Micah 6:6-8

What can we bring to the LORD?

Should we bring him burnt offerings?

Should we bow before God Most High

with offerings of yearling calves?

Should we offer him thousands of rams

and ten thousand rivers of olive oil?

Should we sacrifice our first born children

to pay for our sins?

No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good,

and this is what he requires of you:

to do what is right, to love mercy,

and to walk humbly with your God.

Hosea 6:6

I want you to show love,

not offer sacrifices.

I want you to know me

more than I want burnt offerings.

Lord, may I never get so caught up in serving you, that I neglect to show love to the people around me! Help me to know you and to show love. Help me to do what is right, to love mercy and to walk humbly with you. In Jesus' sweet Name, amen.