“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Ps. 51:17
We consider something broken to be useless; God declares that when we are unbroken, we are useless.
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Ps. 51:17
Though we live under the new covenant, God still desires and receives sacrifices. The difference between the Old and New Testaments is that the sacrifice just changed. In the Old Testament, animals and grain were offered up, in the New Testament, you are the sacrifice.
“At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 26Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. 27All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.” Mt. 11:25-27
Our generation has such a hard time understanding that man does not get saved by having an intellectual understanding of the gospel. To convince someone of the gospel in their mind is not salvation. Salvation comes by revelation to those who humble themselves as a babe.
“And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him.” Gen. 17:23
One man can physically circumcise another man, but no one can circumcise another person’s heart. That circumcision of the heart only happens to a willing vessel performed by the mighty hand of God.
“And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?… 17And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. 18In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:” Gen. 15:8, 17-18
Could it be that Abram saw the smoking furnace as a cloud and the burning lamp as a pillar of fire? I think so. This was God’s sign to Abram that he would inherit the land. 400 years later the cloud and fire showed again up in the wilderness telling the Israelites that the promise is still good and they will yet inherit the land.
“This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.” I Jn. 5:6
The word of God teaches us the truth, the Spirit of God reveals the truth.
“And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. 22And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, 23That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: 24Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.” Gen. 14:21-24
You do not need one shoe latchet of help from the world to fulfill the call of God.
“For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” I Cor. 2:16
The less you have of the mind of Christ the more attractive your ideas become.
“Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” Mt. 15:14
It may seem very unsympathetic for the Lord to tell others to let the blind (He’s talking spiritually) fall into the ditch. However, the spiritually blind have the opportunity to get eyes to see, but many will desire to remain blind. An unrepentive heart leaves man with an inability to see. Pride blinds, humility opens eyes.
“Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.” Mt. 6:2
God is a rewarding God. He rewards even the hypocrites. However, their reward isn’t in heaven, it is for but a moment here on earth. One of the reasons America is so blessed is because our country, even our government, has helped those in need. Not just in our country, but around the world. This does not mean our politicians and most Americans are Christians, they are just collecting their rewards now.