Psalm 4 verses 3 –5 exhort us to live Godly lives, that He may set us apart and hear our prayers, to meditate on the Lord, offer righteous sacrifice and to trust in the Lord.
Righteous sacrifice in our time means something different than it did in King David’s time. The ancient sacrificial offering was to be perfect. I imagine it was watched closely to ensure nothing would injure or contaminate the offering. Though we no longer offer lambs for atonement, we still offer righteous sacrifices. Romans 12 exhorts, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Our righteous sacrifices are a pure mind, a clean heart, and trusting in the Lord.
Offering perfect sacrifice is not done accidentally. It is done intentionally and on purpose. Let us zealously guard our minds, our hearts and our trust, just as the men of old guarded their offering. We must strive to offer, each day, a life in which He is magnified.
Just as Christ lived His life, not for Himself, but for us, we do not live our lives for ourselves. We are examples. Merriam-Webster defines example as “one that serves as a pattern to be imitated.” We live our lives so that others may see what Christ looks like with flesh. We have to guard our righteous sacrifice so that our children will know how to keep their sacrifice acceptable. We MUST live our lives intentionally and on purpose so that those following us can see the cross.
Keith G. Mathews
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The Daily Take away is an extension of the men's ministry of First United Pentecostal Church of Euless. As a part of our commitment to read the word daily we have written down our thoughts to build up the kingdom.
