Tag: Sacrifice

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devotion

The Power of Gratitude

Historic stone monument on grassy hilltop with person and sunrise
A person admires a historic stone monument on a hilltop at sunrise

A Sacrifice of Praise

Scripture

Through him, then, let’s offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which proclaim allegiance to his name. Hebrews 13:15.

Reflection

The Bible calls it a “sacrifice” of praise for a good reason. There are times when showing gratitude is honestly the last thing on your mind. When you really make a sacrifice, it means letting go of the right to complain, putting aside any bad vibes, and not getting caught up in feeling sorry for yourself. When you take a moment to say “Thank You, Lord,” even when times are tough, you’re giving God a special gift that goes beyond how you might feel right now. Feeling this kind of gratitude is super strong because it’s not tied to how you feel day-to-day, but is more about God’s constant nature.

When you sing songs and share genuine praises to God regularly, it really lifts your spirits and can totally change how you feel emotionally. Doing this not only lifts your spirits but also helps you feel a real sense of calm and happiness that really connects with you. When you really dive into this amazing connection, you may notice that the things weighing you down feel less heavy and easier to handle. Ultimately, this act of worship can bring about significant healing and rejuvenation in your soul.

In Hebrews 13:16, the writer was really pointing out how important it is to keep doing good things and to share what you have with others. This verse shows that doing good things for others isn’t just good for them, but it also makes God happy. He appreciates those acts of kindness and the sacrifices that you made. Engaging in good deeds and generosity strengthens your faith and spreads positivity in your community. Remembering this principle can significantly enhance your spiritual journey, as it aligns your heart with God’s will and purpose.

Colossians 3:16 drives home the idea that you should let the message of Christ sink into your heart and minds. You are invited to come together in a community of faith where you can sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs together. Plus, you should always keep this thankful attitude toward God in mind. This shows how worship, teaching, and gratitude are all connected in the Christian community of faith.

Meditations

Take a whole minute to really dive into feeling grateful. Think about all those little blessings in life you usually overlook or forget about in your everyday hustle. Think about how great it feels to breathe in that fresh air, how lucky you are to soak in the beautiful nature around you, and the happiness that comes from hearing your friends and family laugh. Picture those cozy clothes that wrap you up nice and warm, keeping the cold and wind away. They don’t just guard you from the weather. They make you feel like you belong somewhere.

Show your appreciation to God with a grateful heart. Take a moment to thank the Holy One for all the amazing blessings in your life. Take a moment to be thankful for the gift of Jesus Christ, who brings you hope and strength. Whenever you’re feeling low, do not forget to talk to Him about what is on your mind. And if you think you’re lacking in some way, just know that your resilience shines through. Everything you have comes from His amazing love, so express your gratitude with all our hearts.

Always keep a thankful heart for the amazing sacrifice He made. Don’t forget to appreciate the cross, which stands for the greatest act of love and saving grace. He came to rescue you when you were deep in sin. Just remember, His grace and mercy have no limits, and that’s something to hold close forever.

33 Days of Daily Faith

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  • Big Mike &Tabi5.0 out of 5 stars An awesome prospect to understand the Bible. Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2026 Format: Kindle. Dr. Koh has an eye opening way to bring you closer to Bible and following Christ. For many years because of person experience in my life I wasn’t sure if Christ loved me, cared about me, or if he was even real. Then I found this book on a different blog and decided to read it. It says 33 days but honestly it’s kinda hard to stop reading the powerful things being said. It really made me think about things differently. Thank you Dr. Koh. 5 stars (1 out of 59 Amazon Reviews, Average star rating 4.9/5.0)
Dr Andrew C S Koh
Categories
devotion

Binding of Isaac: devotion

Dr. Andrew C S Koh

box set

Setting

The Hebrew word for the binding of Isaac is Akedah. This was God’s ultimate test for Abraham. After waiting patiently for 25 years, God commanded Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice! Abraham passed the test with flying colors. 

God called Abraham by name and told him to take Isaac his only son, whom he loved, and go to Mount Moriah. The name Moriah has a beautiful meaning in Hebrew – it signifies being handpicked by God. Moriah was mentioned only twice in the Bible, and this was the first mention. 

With Isaac carrying the wood, Abraham took a journey to Mount Moriah. The wood on Isaac’s back was a foreshadow of the cross behind Jesus’ back. 

Genesis 22:9-14

9 They came to the place which God had told him of. Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order, bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, on the wood. 10 Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. 11 Yahweh’s angel called to him out of the sky, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” He said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Don’t lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now, I know that you fear God since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and saw that behind him was a ram caught in the thicket by his horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 Abraham called the name of that place “Yahweh Will Provide”. As it is said to this day, “On Yahweh’s mountain, it will be provided.” 

Reflection

The angel of the LORD called out Abraham’s name twice and stopped him from stabbing his son. Scholars believed that this Angel of the Lord was a Christophany of the pre-incarnate Christ.

Abraham passed the test with flying colors. He obeyed the God’s command. God provided a sacrificial ram trapped in the bush, just at the right moment. After sacrificing the ram as a burnt offering, Abraham called the place, Jehovah Jireh, which means, God will provide, in Hebrews.

God promised Abraham posterity as numerous as the stars of the heaven and the sand on the seashore. The whole world will be blessed by Abraham’s ultimate descendant Jesus Christ.

Application

Abraham is a type of God the Father. Isaac is a type of Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God. 

Ancient Mount Moriah is present day Calvary.

At the same place two thousand years ago, God provided His only Son to be the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. 

Whoever believes in Christ shall not perish but have eternal life, John 3:16.

Do you believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross 2000 years ago?

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for sending Your Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross 2000 years ago to save us from sin. Thank You for salvation by grace through faith in Christ. Thank you for sanctification and eternal life, in Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Dr Andrew C S Koh