Are You Sacrificial?
Luke 6:23, “Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.”
Good Morning! Welcome to another day! During the spring we ready ourselves for the rebirth of new things. Winter has finally come to a close for most, with hopes of flowers and trees beginning to blossom or break through the ground. Maybe we are finding ourselves being fake or superficial in how we act or react to others. Sometimes I am sure we get the superficial confused with sacrificial. Instead of giving in to the newness of spring we are putting on fake per saunas, trying to fool people. We have let negative feelings reside inside our hearts, causing unseen pain. Truth is, we are fooling ourselves the most. Praying for a better outlook is just the first step to finding rebirth. Fill your prayers with thankfulness! Job was in a state of shock, disarray, deep depression, but God! He realized through faith that despair diminishes your whole outlook on life, but, getting up, starting over, seeing the newness of life, leads to rebirth. Having sacrificial actions toward yourself leads to those same actions toward others. Luke 6:38, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” Though you feel you have nothing to give in your depressive state, you have much to give! Just by getting up, starting the day positive, pushing yourself to believe in yourself; helps others too! Jesus sacrificed for everyone, even those who were not yet formed! His legacy of how He treated others is how we should be. He feared of dying, but His faith in the rebirth of new things to come opened up peace inside! He knew doing for others was the ultimate goal to fulfill His father’s promises. Throw out that superficial self and become sacrificial by giving up personal desire, comfort, time, so you can follow Jesus; doing for others! Take today and heal inside by giving yourself to God then others in all you do! The results are endless!
Scriptures:
Read: I Peter 3:8-12, II Peter 1:5-11, I Thessalonians 5:15-23, I Corinthians 13:4-7, Romans 12:10, Mark 12:31, Leviticus 19:18, Luke 6:22-28, 35-37, Galatians 5:14, Hebrews 13:5-6, Philippians 2:3-4, Proverbs 19:17, John 15:9-14, II Peter 2:5-9, Ephesians 4:29-32
Prayer:
Dear Lord, we come now humbly asking for strength in the day to day. Thank you for showing us in your word that our relationships with others leads to our relationship with you. Help us Lord to see that loving others helps us to love ourselves too. Please teach us daily to live by example; showing others unconditional love, even when our hearts fear it. Help us Lord to see that what we give we will receive full circle. Amen.