relationships (Psalm 16:1-11) Sacrifice Required

(Psalm 16:1-11)  Protect me, God, for I take refuge in You.

2   I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
     I have nothing good besides You.”
3   As for the saints who are on the earth,
     They are the majestic ones; all my delight is in them.
4   The pains of those who have acquired another god will be multiplied;
     I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood,
     Nor will I take their names upon my lips.

5   The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
     You support my lot.
6   The measuring lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
     Indeed, my inheritance is beautiful to me.

7   I will bless the Lord who has advised me;
     Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night.
8   I have set the Lord continually before me;
     Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9   Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;
     My flesh also will dwell securely.
10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol;
     You will not allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.
11 You will make known to me the way of life;
     In Your presence is fullness of joy;
     In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

We were created to have a personal relationship with the Lord God, but sin entered the world when Adam and Eve disobeyed Him.  Because God is holy and cannot have a relationship with sin, there is a separation between us and God, until we reconcile with the Lord through His forgiveness and salvation.

Since we still have souls, which were intended to be filled by the Lord, it remains empty until we become believers.  If a person doesn't receive the free gift of salvation and the indwelling Holy Spirit, a person will be constantly searching for ways to fill that void.

Innately, because everyone is born with a God-given conscience, people will have this sense that they were made for eternity.  They can also understand that a sacrifice is required.  What they don't understand is - what should the sacrifice be.  And depending on who or what they make as their god, will determine what they need to sacrifice.  

If one's god is their work and money, then their sacrifice will be time and energy and maybe even their integrity and any close relationships.  If one's god is a manmade idol or religion, there will be certain hoops to jump through, and definitely money will be required.  If one's god is a deceased person, they will bring various items to gravesites and/or spend time talking to the deceased.  If one's god is a living person, much time, money and effort will be used to appease and appeal to them.  If one's god is themselves, sometimes there is a lot of time and money spent trying to find joy.  And sometimes, when they feel unworthy, they will cut themselves to find temporary relief and release from whatever internal pain they are feeling.  All of these sacrifices will only ever bring temporary feelings of some sort of satisfaction.

The price of sin is death - which means bloodshed.  Therefore, because He loves us all so very much, whether we accept Him or reject Him... the Lord Jesus came to sacrifice Himself - to die on the cross - to take our place in death.  The Lord always knew that He would have to come in flesh to pay the price for all sin, for all time, for all people.  Because He is God, as verse 10 prophesied, He rose again to have victory over death, so that anyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life in heaven with Him.  And because He is God, salvation is forever.  Once we are a child of God, we cannot lose our salvation. 

This is why we can find refuge in Jesus Christ.  And then, why would we worship and follow anything or anyone else?!  He is the only God.  All other gods lead to eternal death, but Jesus leads to eternal life.  Jesus rose from the dead to conquer death, so that we may have victory over sin and death.

Taking refuge in God is not just for our eternity, but for right now, as well!  The "right now" aspect involves growing closer to the Lord, by studying His word, and praying, trusting in Him and being obedient in His strength and guidance.  It also includes corporate worship, fellowship and teamwork with our brothers and sisters in Christ!  Our only sacrifice required - is our pride - to humbly deny ourselves and seek the Lord and His will!  This is in obedience to what God asks of us!  And it is a blessing to our lives, right now!!!