Obedience and Sacrifice

Daily Reading: Mark 16

Scripture Focus: When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. (Mark 16.1)

Devotional Thought: Mary, Mary, and Salome worshiped Jesus with obedience and sacrifice. They so desperately wanted to pay homage to Jesus, but they waited until "the Sabbath was past." They obeyed. They personally bought the spices and arose early in the morning "that they might go and anoint him." They sacrificed.

The worship of God requires obedience and sacrifice on our part.

When Cain offered his grain to the Lord, he completely missed the concept of sacrifice. He made an offering, but not a sacrifice. His brother Abel sacrificed the sheep from his flock, and his worship was acceptable. God instructed Cain that he required obedience and sacrifice.

When the Israelites were awaiting Moses to come down from Mount Sinai, they discovered that sacrifice was not enough. They had fashioned a golden calf in order to make sacrifices to the God who brought them out of Egypt. But, they were disobedient to God who instructed them to have no idols - no man-made forms of God - to worship. Obedience and sacrifice.

When King David was preparing for the construction of an altar in Jerusalem, he offered to purchase the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, as instructed by God. Araunah offered to give it to the king, but David said, "I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing." Obedience and sacrifice.

What about your worship? Does it include both obedience and sacrifice?

Prayer: Jesus, as the crucified and risen Son of God, you are worthy of my worship. Help me to worship you with obedience and sacrifice. Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 9.13-20

13 Be gracious to me, O Lord! See my affliction from those who hate me, O you who lift me up from the gates of death, 14 that I may recount all your praises, that in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in your salvation.

15 The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught. 16 The Lord has made himself known; he has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. Higgaion. Selah

17 The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God.

18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.

19 Arise, O Lord! Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you! 20 Put them in fear, O Lord! Let the nations know that they are but men! Selah