Offerings

February 28, 2016

Opening Hymns:
576 Rise Up, O Men of God http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh576.sht

Scripture Reading:

Hebrews 10:4-10
10:4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

10:5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, "Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me;

10:6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.

10:7 Then I said, 'See, God, I have come to do your will, O God' (in the scroll of the book it is written of me)."

10:8 When he said above, "You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law),

10:9 then he added, "See, I have come to do your will." He abolishes the first in order to establish the second.

10:10 And it is by God's will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Message:
Reading this scripture feels so freeing. It seems impossible to comprehend the vastness of God’s love and His forgiveness. But I wonder if early Christians felt the same way. Many people at this point had been offering sacrifices for most of their lives. It must have been hard for them to hear that offerings weren’t necessary… and that it wasn’t what God had wanted.

Really, it must have felt like writing a long essay for school, or completing a big project, and learning that you didn’t have to do it at all. It doesn’t count toward your grade. No wonder the Pharisees and religious leaders of the time were so upset. Jesus brought a lot of changes, and we can often be creatures of habit. After all, sometimes we still can feel like we can do things to atone for our sins. When we feel the guilt from sin it is only natural to try to make ourselves feel better by volunteering, giving gifts, or fasting.

It is always good to apologize and make things right with our neighbors if we have done them wrong. It is also good to apologize to God, and ask for His forgiveness when we have sinned. Fasting, volunteering,  and giving gifts are all wonderful things to do; however, we must remember that ultimately God’s forgiveness is entirely a gift from God.

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for forgiving us when we sin. Let us go out and forgive others as You have forgiven us. Amen


The Lord’s Prayer


Closing Hymn
103 Immortal, Invisible, God Only wise http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh103.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God