All in Sacrifice

Of Sacrifice, and Being Healed by Love

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Love, Sacrifice, Redemption

Is there anything of yourself that out of love you have given to, or for, another? Is there anything you consider so valuable, or so dear to you, that you wouldn’t consider parting with? We often think that the most precious possession we have is our life, but is that true? Jesus gave up His life for us, and for the love He felt for God. He valued these two so completely that His life was considered less, and thus, at His Father’s request, He gave it in horrific fashion to redeem mankind... even for those who would wound Him. He loved, and He loved something He considered more precious than His own life. 

No Sacrifice, No Offering... Our Admission Paid in Full!

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Sacrifice, God’s Presence

What offering should we bring to God when we enter into His presence? what offering, or sacrifice, does He require of us that would make us pure enough to approach Him? There is none... our offering has already been made for us once and for all, and all we need do is understand that fact. Don’t feel guilty about going empty handed into your prayer closet, but instead, walk into the Lord’s presence knowing that Jesus has already paid your debt. Don’t stay home from church on Sundays because you feel inadequate or undeserving because provision has already been made for you through Christ, and the Lord is waiting for your arrival.

Jesus the Man; God’s Pickup Truck of Salvation

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Redemption, Salvation, Sacrifice

We talk a great deal about being like Jesus, but we rarely speak of those instances when He was most like us; those moments when His humanity was most evident. Perhaps we are afraid that by doing so we might denigrate Him, but nothing could be further from the truth. The Man called Jesus was just as important to our redemption as the divinity of Christ. Crucifying either one alone would not have been sufficient.

Being a Vile Sinner, or a Small Account Christian, and Receiving Perfection

Richard Forbes
Forgiveness, Daily Devotion, Christian, Grace, Sacrifice

Are you resisting the urge to get on your knees today and ask Jesus to truly come into your heart because you don’t feel worthy? Have you toyed with believing, and tried to lead a good life so that one day you might make yourself good enough for Him? Well faith in Christ does not have perfection as a prerequisite, and walking towards Him is not a self-help endeavor, Jesus didn’t give His life for the perfect, He gave it for the lost, the sinners, the imperfect. He gave it so that you could ask for forgiveness and receive it by grace.

What is Good about Good Friday?

Richard Forbes
Promise, Sacrifice, Good Friday, Daily Devotion, Christian, Prophesy, Redemption

Why is it that we call today Good Friday? Why on this day of the flogging, suffering, and crucifixion of Jesus Christ do we choose to place the name Good Friday? Well, the term’s origin isn’t clear, so the original intent isn’t known, but we can surmise its meaning. Let’s discuss what, besides the horror of Jesus’ mistreatment and execution, occurred on this day.

The Crown of Thorns, and our Hand on the Head of Christ

Richard Forbes
Hands, Sacrifice, Daily Devotion, Acceptable, Redemption, Sin, Christian

Don’t be afraid to lay your sins on the head of Jesus Christ. They will most certainly cut Him, and scar Him, but His love allows Him to endure this for you. This is the first act of making a sin offering, and was done before the blood of a burnt offering was taken, or the animal was killed and placed on the altar. Jesus likewise took the sins of man upon himself in the form of the crown of thorns. These are the sins of mankind... claim Him as your atonement; lay your hand on His head.

Who are we that Witness the Sacrifice of Christ?

Richard Forbes
Character, Christian, Daily Devotion, Sacrifice, Faith

Do we who are sinners mock Jesus as we carry forth our sins towards imminent death? In these, the final days before Easter, do we look at the sacrifice of Jesus and forget that it isn’t just He who hung on that cross, but we as well? Jesus didn’t instruct us to pick up our own cross, and follow Him, simply as a symbol, but by it we will suffer, and die to this world, as He did... and if faithful, be resurrected alongside Him as well.

Loving your Brother, and the Soup of Sacrifice and God’s Perfect Love

Richard Forbes
God’s Love, Daily Devotion, Sacrifice, Christian

What is the litmus test for our faith in God? Is there one thing that we can use when looking at someone which will tell us the truth about their faith, and reveal the status of their relationship with our Heavenly Father? The answer is yes, and that test is for the presence of their love... a love for each of their brothers. If someone were to dip a test strip into you how would they find you; positive, or negative for love?

Jesus; the Ordering of our Life, and Selling all we Have

Richard Forbes
Dedication to Christ, Christian, Example, Sacrifice, Daily Devotion

How complete is our dedication to Jesus Christ? Is He the sole reason for our living, or just another ingredient in our life? Our lives are so full of activities such as work, play, raising children, artistic endeavors, education, and so much more... how is it that we are able to squeeze Jesus into this busy schedule? We do so by making Him the foundation, guiding principle, and focus of everything else. How is your life ordered? What would you sell for Him?

Our Temple, Our Altar, Our Sacrifice

Richard Forbes
Sacrifice, Christian, Temple, Altar, Daily Devotion, Acceptable

We as Christians talk readily about our bodies being a living temple, and we quote certain scripture to make that point, but if our body is our temple then where is our altar, and what is our sacrifice? The temple is where we meet God, the altar is what makes our sacrifice Holy, and the sacrifice itself must be pleasing and received by God. Are you a temple? Do you contain an altar, and what is your sacrifice?

The Power of the Blood that Saves and Changes Us

Richard Forbes
Forever, Communion, Christian, Sacrifice, Blood, Daily Devotion

Do you have sacrificial blood on your clothing? How about on the door of your household? No? Maybe you have it on the ground around you, in your prayer closet, or sprinkled on your Bible? Is the answer still no? Well there was a time when this would have been the case, but now that is no longer necessary because of the New Covenant we have with God in Jesus Christ. Today we consume the blood in Holy Communion in remembrance, and it is in each of us.

The Name, the Faith, and the Courage to Heal.

Richard Forbes
Christian, Sacrifice, Prayer, Daily Devotion, Faith, Courage, Healing

Have you ever healed someone by praying over them? Perhaps not, but if you are a believer then someone certainly prayed with you as the confession, and contrition for your sins were lifted up, and you were healed by the acceptance of your faith... healed of the wretched sin-filled soul you once harbored, and joined with Jesus as a joint heir of God. Sickness comes in all forms, and so does healing.

Sacrifice; Our Praise is more than Words!

Richard Forbes
Praise, Selflessness, Sacrifice, Christian, Daily Devotion

In this age of selfishness, and the hoarding to ourselves the riches of the earth, it is easy to give a tithe, and say it is enough, but that is just what God told us to set aside for His purposes. Is this, or our words, the only way we are asked to praise God, or is there more? Are we to adhere to the law, or go beyond it as Jesus did to feed the hungry, and give drink to the thirsty... even as He did for us with His own blood and body.

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