OzThoughts –Monday 3rd August 2009.

OzThoughts –Monday 3rd August 2009.

I was reading somewhere the other day how someone’s mum kept chooks (chickens) when they were kids. She described how her mother killed the chooks and prepared them for the kitchen. Although it was pretty awful preliminaries she said she sure enjoyed the meals of chicken that were the end result.

I was reminded that our meat comes so easily from the butcher shop or the supermarket. So often it comes all prepared and all we have to do is heat and eat. Other times it is already cooked and designed to be eaten cold.

As I thought about this I began to think about the sacrifices of the Old Testament times. From the earliest times, animals were taken slaughtered and placed on an altar as an offering to God. Even when in the time of Moses, the Laws were refined of how and when and even where this must be done, the result was still like a combination slaughter yard, butcher shop and church.

Today, our churches are rather special and sterile in comparison. However God who gave his Son Jesus as a sacrifice for us, still demands our worship. Our worship is a complete giving of self to him. The movie “Passion Of Christ” has shown for the first time for many people something of the horror of Christ’s death for us.

Micah thinks about the fact that his “worship” must not be so much pleasing to him as pleasing and acceptable to God. What does God want from me when I worship?

Micah asks the same questions and has an answer:
6How can I stand up before GOD
and show proper respect to the high God?
Should I bring an armload of offerings
topped off with yearling calves?
7Would GOD be impressed with thousands of rams,
with buckets and barrels of olive oil?
Would he be moved if I sacrificed my firstborn child,
my precious baby, to cancel my sin?
[JC]
8But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do,
what GOD is looking for in men and women.
It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,
be compassionate and loyal in your love,
And don't take yourself too seriously--
take God seriously.

9Attention! GOD calls out to the city!
If you know what's good for you, you'll listen.
So listen, all of you!
This is serious business. (Micah 6 The Message).

PRAYER:

Father, help me to understand how to come to you in worship. I pray that your Holy Spirit will show your way to me that I may live in worship constantly each day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

MEDITATION:
Micah 6 (New International Version)

6 With what shall I come before the LORD
and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

[Listen: Band: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_2622.mp3
or
Songsters: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_2390.mp3

Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of thy love;
Take my feet, and let them be
Swift and beautiful for thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only for my King;
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from thee.

Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use
Every power as thou shalt choose.

Take my will, and make it thine,
It shall be no longer mine;
Take my heart, it is thine own,
It shall be thy royal throne.

Take my love; my Lord, I pour
At thy feet its treasure-store;
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for thee.


Author: Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-79)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 525

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