Meaningless Sacrifice

I. The Lamb

The Old Rugged Cross

Stained with blood so divine.

The symbol for what He’s done

For me, for you, for all of us.

Welcoming all into His arms from one scarred hand to the other;

He is the ultimate sacrifice.

It was Barabbas they loved.

Beaten and spit on, crowned with thorns, broken and bleeding

Humiliated.

Still He picked up that cross and carried it to the top of that hill.

Stumbling and falling, slowly but surely,

In front of all to see.

He did it for you. And He did it for me.

Nails driven in His hands and feet

Hanging for all to see and thinking of you.

Struggling for breath as the hours pass.

“Forgive them Father, they know not what they have done.” 

Slowly, slowly.

“It is finished.”

Everyone stood by and let Him go.

The sinless one who had done so much good.

They loved Barabbas as many still do.

My savior.

He died for me.

And who am I compared to Him?

A flower fading? A snowflake melting?

I am His.

And He is mine.

II. Spiritual Warfare

A battle fought every day.

Invisible to the sinful eye.

A war that never ends;

A war never truly won.

My way is easy. My way is easy with me by your side.

My way is right. My way is truly right.

You’re life will be exciting and care-free with me. You’ll have eternal life with me.  

Come here, I love you. It is I who truly loves you.

Doesn’t that look like fun? You know it’s wrong to do that.

Do it! Please don’t.

Lie! Tell the truth.

Hate them! Forgive them.

Why don’t you sleep in? You haven’t been to my house in six weeks.

Time for sports! Your youth group really misses you.

It’s a good day for rap music! It’s always a good day for gospel music.

How about a comic book? How about my word?

There’s no time left in the day. Can’t you spare five minutes?

No one understands you! I understand; You can tell me anything.

I’ve given you everything! I gave you my son.   

Angels so pure;

Demons so evil.

Always perched on your shoulder,

Whispering in your ear.

III. Betrayal

Once a week the pews fill, listening, or pretending to.

Singing hymns with empty minds,

Taking for granted what He has done

And thinking about the day they have planned.

He watches and listens

As his children slowly slip away.

My son! My son! Remember what He’s done for you!

I want you to know!

I need you to know.

We make like Judas and turn away.

The tablets from Mount Sinai gather dust in a museum.

Once considered law,

Now rarely given a second thought.

Forgive me Father for I have sinned.

You shall have no other gods before me.

You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

Honour your father and your mother.

You shall not murder.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, his manservant or maidservant,

His ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

Forgive me Father for I have sinned.

Lives taken, lies given, love given to one who is not a spouse,

These things are considered normal now;

Committed thousands of times a day.

Forgive me Father for I have sinned.

His name taken in vain and sworn upon,

Even by people who don’t know him at all.

Forgive me Father for I have sinned.

Barrabas, cows, celebrites, phones, computers,

Books, movies, TV, sports, music, gods, goddesses

Money, shopping, video games

Forgive me Father for I have sinned

But hooray! Hooray! He saved us all!

Repent. Forgive me Father for I have sinned.

Love. I am yours.

Faith. My Savior, Messiah, Redeemer, and Friend.

Repent. Love. Hope. Faith.

The path to paradise.

Some who believe don’t truly believe.

They do what they’re told and don’t ask questions.

The church never lies. The church truth.

Buy your way to heaven!

This indulgence guarantees!

Come one! Come all! Reserve your spot!

But look here at my 95 Theses!

This is wrong I say!

“Be a sinner and sin boldly,

But more strongly have faith and rejoice in Christ!”

Jesus loves me this I know

For the Bible tells me so…

The Father of Reformation,

Appalled by the Christian reputation.

Do as I say, not as I do!

Be kind unto others and accept them all!

Except for those who do not follow his ways. Turn them away.

He loved the lepers and the prostitutes.

Atheists, Satanists, strippers, hookers, drug addicts,

Scientists, government, Goths, rockers, red necks, and drunkards.

The world says hush to talk of religion. That is your own private matter.

I don’t want your God. There’s no such thing!

And they turn us away.

But it is my duty to Him.  

I will not give up.

They cannot keep me away from Him, no matter how hard they try.

Church and State should be one; united. Not torn.

IV. Fishers of Men

He gave us the great commission.

Not to ignore, but to follow.

We are His disciples. Just like Simon called Peter, Judas son of James,

Andrew, James, John, Phillip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas,

James son of Alphaeus, Simon called Zealot, and Judas too.

No longer twelve,

But all who truly believe.

One of you will betray me.

One of you will deny me three times before the rooster crows.  

Try as hard as we might, we will never completely give ourselves to Him.

But all He asks is we do our best.

To follow and love him.

His way is not easy,

But if you follow His way,

You shall live with Him forever in Heaven.

In paradise.

Make disciples of all nations.

Drop your nets and follow me.

V. Live or Live

The Bible. His word.

The B-I-B-L-E! Yeah that’s the book for me!

I stand alone on the word of God! The B-I-B-L-E!

Prayer. Talk to your father.

I pray for your wisdom, oh God, and a heart that’s sincere

Listen. To what He says.

I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth.

Obey. All of His commands.

Worship. For He is the only way.

King over all the universe, to you be the glory!

Sing praise. For His glory.

If all I had was one last breath, I’d spend it just to sing your praise.

Make disciples. For Him.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations

Love him. For He is God almighty, maker of heaven and of earth. Your father.

Every day.

But it is not done.

We don’t follow as it should be done. 

I know you’re there

I know you see me

All knowing and all powerful.

He knows just how far the east is from the west.

The air I breathe, the ground beneath me.

Feared and loved above all things.

He knows you lie. He knows you cheat. He knows everything you do.

Every thought formed.

He knows.

Sitting beside you. Always with you, like he promised.

He knows who you live for.

He knows it isn’t him.

He still loves you.

The lights, the sounds, the people, everyday life.

Distractions!

The Devil and his trickery.

For light or for dark?

For torment or happiness?

Damnation or peace?

Light, happiness and peace! 

You chose your way.

You chose wrong.

Down you go.

            This little light of mine

            I’m gonna let it shine!

            This little light of mine

            I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!

Through everything life entails.

Even distractions.

He calls through the rain and calms the storm.

Seeing sin,

Looking with love

Let him in.

Change.

Live.

Receive the best.

If you so choose.

Live or live.

                                    Amen.