The only sacrifice that pleases God

I hit the ground running yesterday, and kept running all day. When I thought of a moment to sit down and do my Bible study, I couldn't get the privacy I thought I needed to sit down alone - how cunning the enemy is because all I needed to do was to grab my Bible and go and sit in the bathroom for a few minutes with it! Why didn't I think of it then?


This morning I have been reading Psalm 51 and verses 16,17 have captured my attention:

"You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.'

Seems to me that God isn't interested in outward show. Trying to buy His favour with extravagant gifts and elaborate offerings doesn't cut any ice with Him, even if they might fool other people. What God is looking for is a heart attitude. He wants me to get real with Him. He sees genuine tears of repentance, and knows when I am truly humble before him. He sees my brokenness and my sorrow at the mess I have made of my life and of other peoples and like the loving Heavenly Father He is waiting for me to run to Him and say sorry so that He can gather me up in His arms, hold me close, kiss away my tears, reassure me again of His love and give me the support and encouragement to pick up the pieces and start over again.

Lord, help me to be real with You. This Easter may I be so affected by the unmeasurable sacrifice You made for me at Calvary that I can do nothing else but come and fall down at the foot of the cross in penitence and tears for what You did for me there. Amen

Give me a sight o Saviour
of Thy wonderous love to me,
of the love that brought Thee down to earth
to die on Calvary

Was it the nails o Saviour
that bound Thee to the tree?
nay, twas Thine everlasting love,
Thy love for me, for me

O make me understand it,
help me to take it in,
what it meant to Thee, the Holy One,
to bear away my sin.

O wonders of all wonders,
that through Your death for me,
My open sins, my secret sins
can all forgiven be.

Then melt my heart o Saviour
bend me yea break me down,
until I own Thee, Conqueror,
my Lord and Sovereign crown.

O make me understand it,
help me to take it in,
what it meant to thee, the Holy One,
to bear away my sin.

(Katherine A M Kelly)