Beloved, you and I have praised God together through two dozen posts since January. We’ve celebrated His greatness, His compassion, His strength, His gentleness, His sovereignty—the truth is, we could mine His Word for years and never unearth all His praiseworthy qualities.
As our online sister, Jennifer, said, “He is faithful, merciful, loving, patient, long-suffering, our Father and Friend, an all-perfect Sacrifice, and our Savior. He is everything.”
He is. And His sacrifice is the most generous gift ever given. “He has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Hebrews 9:26).
There is no one else like our God. Over the centuries, other gods required followers to sacrifice their lives or the lives of their children. Molek, the detestable god of the Ammonites, was one of them. (Leviticus 18:21).
But our Lord Jesus? He sacrificed His life for us. “Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2).
Can you imagine it? God the Father watched His Son’s suffering and pain, His crucifixion and death, and called it good, called it a sweet-smelling aroma, a fragrant offering.
Oh, Lord, how can we comprehend such love?
His sacrifice didn’t cost Him something. It cost Him everything. “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith” (Romans 3:25).
What does it mean, to receive something by faith?
- It means letting go of our pride and accepting the undeniable fact that we need His blood to cover our sins.
- It means facing the horror of the cross and embracing the truth that His atoning sacrifice was necessary and was enough.
- It means saying with Jesus, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Because it is, my friend. It’s done, once for all.
His finished work is our finished faith.
“For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Hebrews 10:14). Perfect forever? It hardly seems possible. In our flesh we’re not perfect even for a minute, let alone forever. But through His Spirit and because of His sacrifice, we are made perfect. That is to say, complete. Yes, finished.
There is nothing left to be done but praise His name. All the time. “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name” (Hebrews 13:15).
Our calling is clear: profess, proclaim, and praise His name. Today, tomorrow, and forever.
Lord Jesus, Your sacrifice is beyond our comprehension. Your gift is unmatchable. Your love is overwhelming. Your offering is everything.
“Amazing love, how can it be, that You my King would die for me?” If you have a moment, listen to this powerful worship song written by Billy James Foote, with unforgettable scenes from The Passion of the Christ.
His amazing love. His amazing sacrifice. Please share your thoughts below.
Your grateful sister, Liz
@LizCurtisHiggs
P.S. Next Wednesday, please join me for two special events. First, we’ll gather in my old Kentucky home for a 30-minute Livestream at 12noon ET. It’s easy to join me at LizCurtisHiggs.com/livestream. Then, at 1:00pm here on my weekly blog, we’ll begin our 10-week study of the queen of Sheba, as together we journey across the Arabian Desert and through the pages of It’s Good to Be Queen. My sister, I cannot wait to spend time with you, Sheba, and the Lord we love!
Dear Liz,
Years ago I heard you speak on the ABCs of knowing God and who we are in God. I use it in a small group I lead. It has become a frequent beginning to my prayers. Often I will fall asleep walking through who He is. The Holy Spirit is good to remind me of my worries and certain attributes that prove He has it covered! Love that. I have often prayed that He correct my perception of Him as I pray. He has. My favorite was the day I could pray through the alphabet 3 times, once for each the Father, Son and Holy Spirit assigning each of them their own attributes. Beautiful. Thank you for sharing that all those years ago (early 90s?).
Keep passionately pursuing our Savior and sharing it!
<3 Connie
God bless you dear Sister Liz. Christ my husband, maker, redeemer & Friend. His life living in this earthen vessel an all surpassing power showing forth (God) my Abba Daddy is my life, strength & lover of my soul. Carried 75% of this earth vapored life. Astounding Oh How He LOVES,,, HOLY GOD,,, HOLY ONE, SON OF GOD,,,LORD JESUS,,, HIS LOVE TEACHES ME HIS WAY, HIS TRUTH, HIS LIFE,,, I’m DEAD, HIDDEN IN CHRIST “””JESUS HIS EVER PRESENT ABIDING HELP IN ALL, ANY TROUBLE. I AM HIS NEW CREATION (1981) ANCHORED STEDFASTLY WATCHING WAITING PRAYING LOOKING AND LOVING HIS SOON COMING “WHEN OUR FATHER SPEAKS : “MY SON, GO BRING MY CHILDREN HOME” }|{ Vickie Clark God Bless you, Liz
Praising God daily first in morning last at night
always in between
is a sign of pure trust and goodness God made us to be
Butterflies come often bringing Joy from heaven
fragrance of God in lavender and in truth and love
Amazing is all I can say. Amazing that He loves us, amazing that He would die for us. Thanks Liz, you are such a blessing.
How ugly our sin. How beautiful our Savior and His loving kindness toward us. Praise His Name!!! Thank you Liz. God bless.
Oh blessed thought: “God loved us and sent His Son!” (1 John 4:10) Oh blessed thought: Walking with Jesus, I am HIS and HE is mine …. One in the Spirit! “HE is altogether lovely . . . . the chief among ten thousand to my soul!” (Song of Solomon 8) Praise Father….Son….and Holy Ghost!” Amen.
The first time I heard you speak was at Mount Vernon Nazarene University
in Mount Vernon, Ohio. Listening to you share your testimony I was
absolutely transfixed. One moment I was laughing until tears were
flowing down my face and the next tears were flowing because you had
touch a tender spot in my heart. I found you funny and entertaining
with a love for Jesus. Then a couple years ago I heard you again at
the womens’ retreat and girlfriend you have grown tremendously in your
faith walk. We do indeed have an AMAZING GOD. Thank you for your
faithfulness. You have been used of God to get me through some tremen-
dously difficult days. God is amazing like that. You probably hear this all
the time,but the Lord impressed on me to share how you have touched my
life and how your walk encouraged and is encouraging me to be what He
wants. Thanks…..
Hi Liz! I have enjoyed your books for several years, having discovered them thru a book club I belonged to at the time. I first heard you speak in person – and got the pleasure of meeting you — in the metro MN area in 2010. Most recently, I was honored to visit with you and stock up on more Lizzie books in Rochester, MN for the Women’s Retreat in April on “Keeping It Real.” I just enjoy you, your writing, your humor and outlook on life — and most especially, how you share your faith. I am halfway through “It’s Good to be Queen” and am learning soooo much about our Queen of Sheba that I’d never known before. It’s humbling. I just wanted to leave a note of thanks and appreciation for how you share your God given gifts with us! Thanks for this blog, as well! When are you coming to MN again? Soon, I hope!
Blessings, Cheryl
The song was so beautiful…I could hardly watch the video of course… to think Jesus did this for me, for us…that He cared that much, loved us that much. Just too hard to comprehend most of the time. What an awesome God we serve.
Thanks for the great devotional Liz!
I’ve been so blessed by this series, Liz, thank you sooooo much for sharing God’s Word. For everything that He has done “there is nothing left to be done but praise His name. All the time.” Amen. May God bless you as you praise His name in the midst of the beautiful ordinary today. <3
Watched the movie with tears, listened to the song with new ears, and read the words with new meaning. No one can or ever will do what HE did for ALL !!! Love Him more and more each day and I only want everyone to see and feel and know what I experience through and because of my Saviour’s love for me and you. Thank you so much for sharing and allowing myself and so many others to learn with you.
I am forgiven! I want to honor Him with my life and praise Him in all things. The song and video was good reminder of how much He sacrificed for me. Can’t wait for the new study!! Thanks Liz
Amazing Love, how can it be. Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound!
Thank you for posting this.
PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!!!
I sing this song Almost daily, as I take my puppy dog out for her daily morning walk. My heart is full of praise and gratitude that I can come to the MOST HOLY GOD, for everything!
Jesus Christ has provided for me – lowly & contrite – to come to THE HOLY of HOLIES!!!
AMAZING LOVE, How Can it Be???
Faithful loving God!
That I have been made perfect?! That can only be God.
May I remember everyday to consistently praise you Jesus for your great sacrifice
Thank you for this powerful post about our Lord’s sacrifice and the video. What a holy, humbling experience in my heart. God bless you and those you minister to. 🙂
Thank you, Sis. Liz, for the work you put in to encourage us in our faith with your writing. Your blogs have been a real blessing. Books too.
i can’t understand this mighty love of our God,i’m so far away from understanding the unique sacrifice on that cross;i can only accept it with a grateful heart,and leaving myself in His hands,and breathing his love,receiving his strength day by day.thanks dear Liz
Reading this it really hit me for the first time. In God’s awesome display of differentiating Himself from the “little g” gods He turned the ugly depravity of sacrificing children to Molech and turned it around and sacrificed His perfect Son for us. What a God we serve!!!!
God has been tempering my take-charge approach and urging me to listen before I speak, to consider other people’s opinions before I offer mine, and to fearlessly follow His lead, without looking over my shoulder to see who else is coming. Boldness should look like affection, not aggression.
God has been tempering my take-charge approach and urging me to listen before I speak, to consider other people’s opinions before I offer mine, and to fearlessly follow His lead, without looking over my shoulder to see who else is coming. Boldness should look like affection, not aggression.