A Priest and A Sacrifice <> 1 Peter 2:4-5

A Priest and A Sacrifice                                

1 Peter 2:4-5

“Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:4-5 NKJV).

In my last post, the focus was verse 4, identifying us as living stones in God’s Kingdom. Today we’ll focus on verse 5.

As living stones in God’s house, we are consecrated by Christ’s blood as holy

priests (Revelation 5:9-10), to offer up sacrifices acceptable to God. This brings us to Paul’s letter to the Romans, which says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2 NKJV).          

Paul declared that we are to give our bodies as living sacrifices in service to God and proceeds to explain how this can be accomplished. After all, it’s a big deal—a big commitment—a big sacrifice for a person to give his or her whole self away. 

 

In verse 2 he explains how we can actually make it happen.

1- Do not be conformed to this world. We must not allow the ways of the world to influence and shape us.

2- Instead, we each must be transformed into God’s design for us. When we got born-again we made a choice to follow Christ Jesus. God has a great life-plan for each of us. With the help of the indwelling Holy Spirit He wants to direct our paths and mold us into His own creations. It’s our choice whether or not to let Him have His way.

3- The transformation God wants for each of us can only come about through the renewing of our minds. No matter how good a person is or thinks he or she is, we each must know this: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways declared the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8 NKJV).

How can we renew our minds? The best place to begin this process is with prayer, asking God to help. Also, reading, meditating on, and systematic study of God’s Word, the Bible. We need to continue to stay connected to God on a daily basis. Renewing our minds continuously helps keep the pipeline to the Throne Room unclogged with the cares of this world and distractions and traps Satan will try to throw our way.

When praying, we can ask God to help us stay focused on Him and His Word. Daily quality time in God’s Word is vital. This is not just reading a devotional. There is certainly a place for meaningful devotionals but real devotion to getting to know the Living God and His Son—our Savior—Jesus Christ is essential to renewing our minds. We want to mature into followers of Christ who are Christ-like (1 Corinthians 11:1) and who have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).

4- So that we “may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2c). Paul concludes this thought with the important concept of proving out—that is discerning—God’s will is good for us; that it is acceptable according to God for our benefit; and that it is perfect and complete in facilitating the abundant life God desires and has ordained for each of us.

The word prove in Scripture means to test, discern, examine, try out, (Strong’s* #1381). Thayer** describes prove as putting to the proof. As we walk out God’s calling, according to the transformation we’ve experienced through our renewed minds, we will prove that God’s will for us is indeed good, acceptable, to Him and perfect for our individual well-being.

So, we’ve learned from Romans 11 what it means to offer up an acceptable spiritual sacrifice to God through Jesus Christ. Notice that both Paul and Peter stress that it is through Jesus Christ we approach God with these sacrifices. Christ is our Mediator, through which our transformation and the knowledge of God’s will takes place.

Only through Jesus.

When we receive Jesus as our Savior—get born-again—God then bestows upon us the right and privilege of having Jesus stand in the gap for us. Through His crucifixion, some 2000 years ago, He took the punishment we deserved for our sin. He became our Mediator—the One who settled-up with Father God on our behalf. He continues to stand in the gap and we need to be mindful of that truth every day of our lives.

What are examples of acceptable sacrifices we offer up to God? Here are some practical examples: 1- Praise—glorifying God with our lips in awe and gratitude.  2- My self—like my thought life, my eyes (what I look at), my feet (where they take me), my hands (what they do and touch), and my talents. We could go on and on. 3- My time. 4- My finances. 5- My love and affections to God and other people.

With knowledge of God and His Word, along with help from the Holy Spirit we can offer up pleasing sacrifices which are welcome and acceptable to God.

Let’s pray. Holy Father, thank you for choosing me to be a living stone in your Kingdom. I do want to sacrifice to You pleasing things and I want to be a living sacrifice, Honoring Your sacrifice for me. Thank You for showing me and helping me glorify You with my life in this way. Through Jesus and in the glorious name of Jesus I pray—Amen.

Your comments are welcome.

©Copyright 2018 Connie Wohlford

Your ears shall hear.

“Risikili” – Part 7 – Your ears shall hear.      

 We continue with RiSiKiLi−

                       You know− Read it, study it, know it, live it. 

How’s your Bible time going? Are you getting to know your Creator through His Book?

God’s plan for each of us is that His Word be a guide for life each day. It can be described as a road map, in instruction manual, or a recipe for life.

Without It, how can we maintain spiritual strength, wisdom, and knowledge day to day? How can we otherwise know where to walk, at what pace, when to stop, and where to turn? When we’re walking in the way of God, we’ll have ears to hear Him direct our paths.

I love the encouragement of Isaiah 30:21: “Your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.”   

The only way for us to have the ability to hear God speak on a regular basis, is to get to know Him personally. This we do through His Word−His provision to mankind for this purpose. 

Someone might say, “Well, one time God spoke to me out of the blue when I wasn’t even saved and I was certainly not reading a Bible.” Yes, that can happen. 

An example might be when a person is about to make a decision such as going through the door on the right vs. the door on the left. This might be a soldier in an urban combat situation. God can do a sovereign work and speak clearly to him and say, “It’s the left door. Go in.”

As I said, this may be a sovereign act of God as He sees fit at that moment. Perhaps He’s answering the prayers of the young man’s mama or grandpa, down on their knees interceding for their precious loved one.   

Bottom line: It’s important for us to learn to let God show us the way through life. His Word can illuminate our path—we need to turn on the switch by reading it.

 

 

 

We don’t know what may be around any corner—God does. We can’t see the snares and pitfalls—God can. We don’t know the final outcome of any situation—God knows (Isaiah 46:10).   

 

Reading and studying our Bibles, builds trust in the One who gave us life. Knowing and trusting Him, allowing His Word to light our path, and living it out—Risikili—leads us into and through a life of upmost abundance. At the end of it we’ll hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”    

What are you doing to get to know your Creator better? Are you consistent in Bible study?  

Please leave a comment telling me and other readers how your Bible has helped you get to know God better. Also tell of a time when God gave you an answer or an instruction as a result of your Bible reading/study. 

Here’s an example from me: One morning my Bible reading included Proverbs 3:27, Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so. 

As I read, I had an immediate thought, “You need to give Dianne the money for that dress.” I knew it was the Holy Spirit speaking to me!  

About a month earlier, I agreed to buy a dress from a friend. She had purchased it and then decided the color didn’t work with her red hair. As it happened it was one of my favorite colors to wear. She handed it over and said, ”No rush on paying. Whenever is fine.” 

I took her at her word and though I didn’t forget, I simply didn’t think about paying her at a “convenient time.” Then when I read that proverb, I knew I needed to take care of business. I made it a priority and her the money the next time I saw her. I also enjoyed telling her about God telling me to pay up.  

Though that occurred many years ago, I smile every time I think about it and she probably has no recollection of the occasion. 

If you’re not consistently in the Word, I encourage you start today. Then watch out for God speaking to you—often in an unexpected way.   

Feel free to record your decision to begin doing so and see it as a commitment to your Heavenly Father.  

May God richly bless your personal Bible time.  

© Connie Wohlford

Scripture passages from: https://www.biblegateway.com/