Word of the Week

8/28/10

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,

A broken and contrite heart--

These, O God, You will not despise. Ps. 51:17 (NKJV)

The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit.

A broken and repentant heart, O God, you will not despise. Ps 51:17 (NLT)

There are many references to sacrifices to God in the Old Testament. Animal, or blood, sacrifices were required to atone for sin. In the New Testament Jesus’ death, or blood sacrifice, atoned for the sins of anyone who is willing to accept it. David came to realize that the sacrifice God wanted from him after his sin with Bathsheba (and to Uriah) was a broken spirit, a broken and repentant heart. That proud arrogant spirit that insisted on doing what it wanted as it yielded to temptation in direct opposition to God’s commands must be broken and put under submission to God so it would be willing to follow God and be obedient to Him. David needed to offer his broken heart that was deeply repentant to God. God would receive this heart that would turn away form sin and temptation and become fully obedient and yielded to God.

While we, as Christians, receive complete forgiveness of our sins, we must not lose sight of the seriousness of sin in our lives. All sin in whatever form it takes, whether we think of it as large of small, is a rebellion against God’s way of living. And that rebellious self-centered spirit must be broken and contrite before true repentance can take place. Only then will we be willing to submit in complete obedience to God. That is the sacrifice that pleases God and is acceptable to Him.

PRAYER: Dear God, Help me see my sin as a rebellion against You no matter what form it takes. Help me to be truly repentant, to come before You with a broken, contrite heart. Let my spirit cry out in sorrow and a with a deep willingness to turn from sin and into repentance.