THE NEW EWE

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'"

Luke 15:4-6

April 6, 2022

LIFE IN THE FOLD:

I recently saw a quote that said, "God has never stopped being good. We've just stopped being grateful." It reminded me of a Psalm that I read earlier this week.

Psalms chapter 50 begins by saying that God calls on the heavens above and earth below to witness the judgement of His people. He then says, "Bring my faithful people to Me -- those who made a covenant with Me by giving sacrifices."

Verse 7 tells Israel, God's people, to listen to Him speak as He tells them what the charges are against them. Then He declares, "I am God, your God!"

What I really want to focus on are verses 8-14: "I have no complaint about your sacrifices or the burnt offerings you constantly offer. But I do not need the bulls from your barns or the goats from your pens. For all the animals of the forest are Mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird on the mountains, and all the animals of the field are Mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for all the world is Mine and everything in it. Do I eat the meat of bulls? Do I drink the blood of goats?"

The next verse is important: "Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High."

Offering sacrifices is something that God initiated back in Genesis.

Genesis chapter 4 tells us about Cain, who was a farmer, presenting some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. Abel, who was a shepherd, brought a gift, also -- the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. God accepted Abel's offering/sacrifice, but not Cain's. Why? Because Abel gave his very best from his firstborn lambs.

In Leviticus, God gave the Israelites specific laws and detailed instructions for offering sacrifices. Chapter 17:11 says, "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life." The sprinkling of blood was an important part of the ritual and symbolized cleansing and purification.

So offering animals as a sacrifice was ordained by God. In Psalms chapter 50, He tells the people that He had no complaints about their sacrifices or burnt offerings.

But God went on to tell them that He personally didn't need their bulls and goats. Why? Because He already owns the cattle on a thousand hills. In fact, all the animals of the forest and birds on the mountains and animals of the field belonged to Him. So God didn't have them sacrifice because He needed their animals. He didn't have the people sacrifice because He was hungry and needed the meat to eat (some of the meat, that wasn't burnt up, went to the priests to eat). They sacrificed to make atonement for their sins. God had no complaint about that.

Hebrews chapter 10 explains this in more detail. "The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared. But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins." The following verses explain that is why Jesus came; as the atonement for all of mankind's sins.

Verse 14 of Psalms chapter 50 tells us what God desires: "Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you make to the Most High." Why is this important? Verse 15 says, "Then call on Me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give Me glory."

The last verse in Psalms 50 says, "But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors Me. If you keep to My path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God."

Today we are not under the Old Testament law of offering sacrifices, because Jesus came to earth and offered Himself as a sacrifice for the atonement of all mankind's sins. So really it's difficult for us to truly understand what those first few verses in Psalms chapter 50 mean; having never had to go year after year to offer up animal sacrifices in the temple.

How we can apply this to ourselves today? We are to make thankfulness our sacrifice to God, and keep the vows that we make to Him. Why? Because giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors Him.

A definition of sacrifice is an act of surrendering a possession as an offering to God; an act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy.

When we are feeling blessed and everything is going great, giving thanks to God is more easily done. But when we are going through difficulties and don't understand why things are happening as they are, giving thanks is a sacrifice. We are giving up our own feelings and worries and how our flesh wants to react. We are to trust God and thank Him for being with us and His presence in our lives. We surrender our own personal desires and wants so that we can offer up unto God a sacrifice of thankfulness. He truly is worthy!

1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

That's so hard to do at times! Perhaps that is why God refers to it as a sacrifice in Psalms 50.

That doesn't mean that we can't pray for needs and believe God for miracles, that only He can do.

Philippians 4:6 says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." We can bring our petitions to God, with thanksgiving, know that He cares for us and loves us so very much. We can be assured that He will take care of us and be with us; regardless of what happens or is going on in our life or our family or in the world around us.

The following verse says why this is important and what the results will be: "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

God knew that thanksgiving would be a sacrifice. But He gives us the benefits of doing so. Not only will we have overwhelming peace, but in Psalms 50 we are told that when we are in trouble, God will rescue us; then we will give Him glory.

Equally important to offering God the sacrifice of thanksgiving, is keeping the vows that we make to Him (verse 14). That last verse in that Psalms tell us if you keep to His path, He will reveal to us the salvation of God.

JON'S PERSPECTIVE:

There are more things to sacrifice than cows or thanksgiving. Almost none of us raise cattle or sheep to offer as sacrifices. And there aren't exactly altars to sacrifice them at.

But we can give up other things that are important to us as a symbol of our dedication and thanks to God. We can give up Facebook, TV, or games for a few days. We could give up chocolate, salty snacks, or pop. God may encourage you to give up something specific besides those. The important part is to give it up as a gift to God, not for your health or other self-serving motivation.

It is also very important that we give sacrifices of thanksgiving (or other sacrifices) without expecting anything in trade. That seems simple, but it's one of the easiest things to fool ourselves over. If it is hard to give things up to God when we are doing well, and don't need anything, that might be a clue we are doing it for trade. If it is easiest to give up things to God because we have some desperate need, that might be a clue we are doing it for trade.

Do it because you are grateful. Do it because it's right. Do it because He deserves it.

ON THE MENEWE:

Beefy King Ranch Bubble Up

Preheat oven to 350.

Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray.

In a large skillet, cook ground beef until browned; drain; then return meat to skillet.

Add taco seasoning and water. Simmer for 5 minutes.

Stir in soup, Rotel, garlic powder and onion powder. Add Velveeta cheese; cook until melted. Remove from heat.

Cut biscuits into quarters. *Note: If using regular sized canned biscuits instead of the Jr size, cut each biscuit into 6 pieces, instead of quarters; and don't use the entire can, or it will be too much. Stir cut biscuits into beef and cheese mixture.

Pour mixture into prepared pan. Bake for 30 minutes.

Top with favorite taco toppings, if desired.

THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER:

When my niece was around 10 years old, she really liked the song, "Oh Where Have You Been Billy Boy." Remember that old song?

"Oh where have you been Billy boy, Billy boy; Oh where have you been charming Billy? I have been to seek a wife, she's the joy of my life......"

Several times during that period of my niece's life, she mentioned to her mom, "When I grow up and get married, I want that song sung at my wedding." Apparently since the song talked about him going to seek a wife, she thought that would be a great wedding song. Thankfully, by the time she grew up and got married, she changed her mind and had songs that were a little more appropriate for a wedding!

THOUGHT TO PONDER:

A successful day is one in which you have stayed in touch with God, even if many things remain undone at the end of the day. Do not let your to-do list (which many of us struggle with) become an idol directing your life. Instead, ask God to guide you moment by moment. - Betty K Parton

OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO YOU:

We love you!

Loretta & Jon

http://www.graysheep.org