March 31 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Ephesians 5:1-14:

¹Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
²And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.
³But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
⁴Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
⁵For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
⁶Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
⁷Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
⁸For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
⁹(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
¹⁰Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
¹¹And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
¹²For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
¹³But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
¹⁴Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

Devotional

The only sacrifice that is well-pleasing to God is the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. All other sacrifices had no value whatever, considered in themselves. They could not take away sins. They had value only in so far as they typified Christ, and the believing Israelite brought them in faith. Christ gave himself for us an offering and a sacrifice. This sacrifice God accepted as a full satisfaction for our sins.

By bringing a sacrifice a believing Israelite was not giving a gift to God, by which God was appeased, but was making a confession of faith. He confessed, I am a sinner. I have deserved death; but another dies for me, and I go free. Thus he experienced the blessedness of one whose sins are forgiven.

We have nothing else to bring to God but the perfect sacrifice of Christ. "Not the labor of my hands .... simply to Thy cross I cling." We are "accepted in the beloved."

"This man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God." His work is complete. It is finished. God demands no other sacrifice from us as atonement for our sins. He wants confession of sins and faith in Christ. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name."

Prayer

Our Father, help us to realize that we cannot bring anything unto Thee that could atone for our sins; but that Jesus Christ has given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to Thee; and that He by his one offering has made perfect for ever them that are sanctified. Help us then truly to repent of our sins, and lay hold in faith of Jesus Christ, and offer the sacrifice of praise continually, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to Thy name. Amen.

---

Scripture in Devotional: Ps. 32:1; Eph. 1:6; Heb. 10:12; Ps. 51:17; Heb. 13:15.

Click here for background on Light and Comfort and the author.