'Sacrifice' Tagged Posts (Page 2)

'Sacrifice' Tagged Posts (Page 2)

Daily Devotions

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith…” vss. 1-2a Hebrews 12:1-2 The record of faithfulness outlined in Hebrews 11 is impressive. Scribes had preserved nearly two millennia of stories and regarded those records as their holy scriptures. By…

Daily Devotions

And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him…” vss. 21-22         Colossians 1:21-28 There are many people today who would just as soon eliminate the cross from the Christian faith. For them it’s bloody and gruesome, and reeks of a sacrificial theory of the atonement that they think we’d be better off without. They…

Daily Devotions

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us…” vs. 1 Hebrews 12:1-3 Whenever calamity strikes our world, whether in the form of earthquake, fire, storm, or vicious military takeovers, we are at first numbed by the pictures and stories that emerge from the disaster. There is so much unnecessary…

Daily Devotions

Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself.” vs. 27 Hebrews 7: 27-28 The writer of Hebrews used familiar imagery (for his readers anyway) to convey the truth of the gospel. For any who were wondering how they could possibly atone for their sins now that the temple was gone, he…

Daily Devotions

Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.’” vs. 26 John 6:24-27 Jesus was no fool. He had a pretty good understanding of human nature and he knew folks were more interested in free food than they were in him. For many that’s still how it is! They turn up at church or tune into religious services not to get a…

Daily Devotions

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us.” vss. 7-8a Ephesians 1:3-8a When soldiers die in battle we commonly say that they have shed their blood for the sake of their country, and that they died to maintain our freedom. And of course we set aside days to remember their great sacrifice. Early Christians had a similar regard for the death of Jesus…

Daily Devotions

Is not this the fast that I choose: to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them…? vss. 6a-7 Isaiah 58:1-12 The prophet imagines a conversation between God and Israelites who are wondering why their prayers aren’t being heard when they have been so faithful in making their temple sacrifices and keeping their ritual fasts. In the prophet’s estimation, God has a different agenda for them–they’ve…

Daily Devotions

Jeremiah 31:10-14 “Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy, I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.” vs. 13 The picture of hope that Jeremiah painted for the people of Israel included return to the land and an amazing celebration. Their mourning would be turned into joy, and their sorrow transformed into gladness. There would be dancing and merriment…

Daily Devotions

Romans 12:4-8 … “For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.” vss. 4-5 Paul’s words about the body of Christ are familiar. We’ve understood from the beginning that the many members of the Church have different functions, and that together we make up the one body. Even though we’ve had to fight…

Daily Devotions: May 1, 2020

May 1, 2020 1 Peter 2:22-25 … “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” vs. 24 In recent years there are many who have become uncomfortable with the traditional atonement theories. In particular, they don’t like the notion that Jesus took our punishment upon himself by dying on the cross, that somehow his death was the payment required for…

Daily Devotions: March 12, 2020

March 12, 2020                                                                                              Romans 5:6-11 … “Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die.” vs. 7 Some theologian types through the years have put forward the notion that Jesus’ death was a sacrifice that takes away the sin of the world. Now they can certainly find verses in Scripture to back their position; indeed, there are many parallels that can be made between the Jewish sacrificial system and…

Daily Devotions: May 5, 2019

May 5, 2019    For full passage click: John 21:15-19 …“He said to him the third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.’” vs. 17 On the eve of Jesus’ crucifixion, Peter had denied his Lord three different times. Following the resurrection,…