Text: Isaiah 1:11,18, John 1:29, Hebrews 9:11-14, 10:1-14
It’s hard to be told you’re not good enough.
I still remember being cut from the Junior Varsity basketball team. I absolutely remember not being cast as Maria in our school’s production of West Side Story after singing and dancing my heart out on that enormous, empty stage. (I was cast as “Anybodys” instead. There’s just not as much glory in playing the role of a tagalong tomboy.) I remember being rejected by that boy when I was sixteen, not getting that scholarship when I was applying to go to college, and spending way too many anxious nights telling myself I’m not a good mom.
Rejection is hard. Nobody wants to hear that her best efforts can’t possibly make the cut. It’s hard enough when you’re trying to earn the approval of your peers, but it’s quite another thing when you’re endeavoring to win the eternal approval of the One who made you.
We may no longer sacrifice the blood of bulls and goats in an attempt to right ourselves in the eyes of God, but that doesn’t mean we don’t throw other things at the altar to make a show of faith or a pass at redemption.
We tithe and dig wells and adopt orphans. We read and write books, we “buy one, give one” and shop with a purpose. We make legitimate and worthy sacrifices from genuine hearts of compassion and love for the benefit of others and not ourselves.
We try.
We do the right thing with the wrong heart.
We do the right thing with a right heart.
We sing and dance and hope our Father notices.
And it’s absolutely not enough.
Nothing we do can garner acceptance or atone for sins. Nothing can. Scholarship denied.
Our sacrifices are not sufficient, however genuine they may be. No matter how much we do justice and love mercy and walk humbly, our “blood of bulls and goats” can never be good enough to do what the shed blood of the Lamb of God accomplished on our behalf.
You see, God always knew that a Greater Sacrifice would have to be made. And once and for all, it was.
“For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said,
‘Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
but a body have you prepared for me;
in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.
Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,
as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.'”
Hebrews 10:4-7, ESV
Friends, you and I are not enough—and that is okay. Know that. Hear and acknowledge and embrace that. Hear also that the blood of the spotless Lamb of God has been shed on your behalf. It is okay that we fall perpetually short because He is our Enough.
In glorious light of the all-sufficient sacrifice of Jesus, let’s lay our striving down. And on this fourteenth day of Advent, may any good thing we offer simply flow from the joy of a heart that is eternally redeemed and forever thankful. Amen.
For an added layer of worship during this sweet season of adoration and expectation, we’ve created a Spotify playlist for Advent 2014! You can find the complete SheReadsTruth | O Come Let Us Adore Him playlist at this link, or listen to today’s track on the player below. Enjoy!
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60 thoughts on "An All-Sufficient Sacrifice"
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What a great and much needed reminder!
Although my best efforts would never be enough, I can stand boldly knowing that when God looks at me he sees Christ’s righteousness! He purchased my salvation and this glorious truth has changed my life and I will never get sick of talking about it! The pressure is off! I don’t “have” to obey God to earn his love. I already have his love and it is my privilege to obey him out of a grateful heart for all that he has done for me!
I definitely needed this reminder today! Thank you!
“It is okay that we fall short because He is enough!” This is something we have to remember because He is enough!!
Oh how I need this reminder every day! I am nothing and God is everything!
Totally awesome beyond compare.
Nothing we do or say will ever be enough to earn what we are given. Eternal life. Mercy. Grace. Unconditional love. He gives it to us so freely. No good deed is high enough and that is OK. Let us stop trying to please Him and earn what is given freely. Just accept it and let His spirit guide our hearts. Let’s do things not for his approval but for joy from our hearts! We can’t be perfect or even come close to it but we can be close to Him! Seek Him and live life in fruitful spirit! Remind me Jesus to not beat myself up trying to be perfect!
Thank you for this devotional, for your truly encouraging and truthful words that have helped melt away some of the lies I’ve allowed myself to believe. I really love being a part of this community!
My prayer….may any good thing we offer simply flow from the joy of a heart that is eternally redeemed and forever thankful. Amen.
"Friends, you and I are not enough—and that is okay. Know that. Hear and acknowledge and embrace that. Hear also that the blood of the spotless Lamb of God has been shed on your behalf. It is okay that we fall perpetually short because He is our Enough."
I'm done. I can't do religion. Jesus, I want you. I thank You and I praise You for every single drop of blood You shed because I'm not enough. I thank You that You are enough. May I look to Your goodness instead of my own "goodness."
Thank you for this today. I needed it.
–AnnaLee
I heard a leader give a speech about how she read a "devotional" about being enough and I went searching everywhere for this! I finally found it! I needed to read this. 'It’s hard enough when you’re trying to earn the approval of your peers, but it’s quite another thing when you’re endeavoring to win the eternal approval of the One who made you.' How exhausting is it when we try to 'look prettier, be nicer…etc' for the approval of the Christian ladies around us? Ahhhhh, I know it gets me going all over the place spending way too much money at Sephora. Winning the approval of others is exhausting, but trying to win the approval of God is suffocating for my soul. It takes away all the joy of reading my bible and worship. I want to be filled with Jesus this season. I want the Joy of the Lord to be my strength and also have it be extremely contagious to others! Great read today!
So easy to lose track of this. No matter how often I hear this I still struggle with it. I like to earn things (degrees, certifications, etc). Somewhere in the back of my brain is the thought, “if you don’t work for it, it’s not really valuable”. But that’s just not true. True, it cost ME nothing. But my redemption cost Jesus Christ more pain, sorrow, and suffering than I can ever imagine! And He suffered all of it for people who would hate Him. And rebel against Him. And people who would eventually crawl broken to Him. People like me. Wow. No words
Reminds me of a sermon I heard once:
"I am not, but I know I AM."
The Great I AM is wholly sufficient.
Thank you, Father.
Needed this.
Nothing good I do is good enough to cleanses me from my sin. Nothing bad I do is bad enough to remove me from His grace. It's all on Him and in His righteousness. Sometimes this is so hard to wrap my mind around. I'm a good girl- we're suppose to be good and please everyone, but it's not enough. There is so much freedom in that.
So humbled
I am not good enough. I have always known that. But thank the Good Lord and Son that through Him I am worth something!
“Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” – that means my sin is covered by His perfect sacrifice. Thank you Jesus!!
just wanted to say how blessed i was to read over the christmas bell poem and it came upon a midnight clear lyrics in the study pack today….these verses stuck out to me….
and in despair i bowed my head;
"there is no peace on earth," i said;
"for hate is strong,
and mocks the song
of peace on earth, good-will to men!"
then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
the wrong shall fail,
the right prevail,
with peace on earth, good-will to men."
——–
and ye, beneath life's crushing load,
whose forms are bending low,
who toil along the climbing way
with painful steps and slow,
look now! for glad and golden hours
come swiftly on the wing.
o rest beside the weary road
and hear the angels sing!
for lo! the days are hastening on,
by prophet seen of old,
when with the ever-circling years
shall come the time foretold
when peace shall over all the earth
its ancient splendors fling,
and the whole world send back to the song
which now the angels sing.
Thank you so much for this. It is so good to be reminded that we aren’t enough, but thankfully our wonderful Saviour Jesus is! Thank you God!
I am not enough. I have been feeling the weight of this over and over the last few days. But now I have found relief through admitting and surrendering to the truth and knowing that He is my Enough! Thank you for this devotion!
So lovely to gather with other SRT sisters this Saturday, and it feels special to be together through advent too. Love to you xx
“We do the right thing with the wrong heart. We do the right thing with a right heart.”
Such an important reminder. No matter the condition of our heart, it is not enough. Only He is.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! This is what I need to hear. Today and everyday.
Today's generation of young adults live in a society where we must always be the best, we must always receive a trophy, and we must always strive for the promotions, raises and be on top. We must get more. In my generation not so much so. It was much more relaxed, more emphasis put on the family, on attending church together, on eating dinner together, work was work, but Family was much more important. I think we get a little lost today in all the busyness of our lifestyles and striving to be the BEST. We have lost site of what is really important and that is CHRIST. We have not only removed him from our Christmas celebrations, we have removed Him from our minds. Yes, he is still in our heart, but we put the things of this world over our hearts. The truth is we may be the CEO in this world, the President of company, our kids may be the MVP of their ball team, receive those scholarships, but then what? These things are all temporary. We attend church on Sunday (if there is no ball tournament), we give gifts to the needy, we do a daily devotional, post spiritual quotes on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram, but when we are alone or in the midst of our friends and family are those posts and the lessons we hear at church reflected in our lives? Do people see Christ in me? Do that see from my life that I am His child? Does Christ know from the way I live, that I am thankful for the sacrifice he made for me. He made me perfect forever, because of His Sacrifice, not what I do, not the acclamations I achieve, not how many times I go to church, etc. For Christ
"14 With one sacrifice he made perfect forever those who are being made holy."
Have a blessed day ladies.
God is always on time. Todays devotional hit a home run in my heart. The past few days I've felt like I can't measure up, struggling with self worth and battling thoughts of "I'm not enough," and "I'm never going to be the wife I'm suppose to be." I've created these images in my head of what I think I'm suppose to be instead of focusing on the grace and the blood that was shed at the cross FOR ALL OF US!!!
After reading this today, I feel a weight lifted off of my shoulders. I will never be enough, in the sense that God created a void in our hearts for Him. HE IS OUR ENOUGH and I'm not meant to do it all on my own. Phew.
"Friends, you and I are not enough—and that is okay. Know that. Hear and acknowledge and embrace that. Hear also that the blood of the spotless Lamb of God has been shed on your behalf. It is okay that we fall perpetually short because He is our Enough."
Thank you Lord for the grace you pour out on us and for the fulfillment we have in you. You are above all things and I give you all the praise, honor and glory!!
Awesome.
Yes, yes, and yes. I can breathe deeply and cast off the pressures of a performance-based culture (even found in Christian circles). He is all I need this morning.
I have always asked myself, "why did it used to be about the "blood of bulls"? I know God put that in place as a price for sin. But in the verses given today is Isaiah, it seems as though the people, instead of being sorrowful about their sin, instead of being remorseful, they did it as a check list; they did it just to do it–not because it served a purpose in reuniting them with the living God. So when we see in Hebrews how it talks about how the blood of bulls isn't enough to cover our sin, I become humbled and thankful for the blood of Christ because I know that I too, have my own "blood of bulls" in trying to land on God's good side, even if it's not really intentional. Even if I do everything with the right intention, I still need Christ, because I am a sinner, and it doesn't matter what I do, what I sacrifice, what I do for the wrong or right reasons, Christ is the only one that saves me. While doing good is important, and worth while, and noble, etc. These works are what saves me or justifies me in the eyes of God. If those of the old testament never had to sacrifice bulls or animals for atonement for sin, would the message of Christ hit home? Anyway, these are just thoughts going through my mind. I know that Christ came to fulfill the law, and He did just that with the spilling of HIs blood. I praise Him for his sacrifice, his gift, and my salvation. I pray that I would continue to try to do the right things for the right reasons, understanding my salvation lies in Christ–not in works. Thank you, God, for this message today. I pray that we would set aside our "blood of bulls" in an attempt to appease you and really enter into your fellowship and love as we continue in this advent season. Help us to demonstrate what it means to be Yours in our overflowing.
Thank you for your beautiful words, Emily Caroline. It was like a mini devotional in a devotional :) May God bless you abundantly.
I am a people-pleaser and approval-addict to the core. Which means I often find myself trying to please God and win His approval, forgetting that on my own I will never be enough but because of Jesus, I already am enough. Thank you for this reminder and the freedom it brings.
Love it.
I love being reminded of this truth – that I am not enough – I think it is what drew me to Jesus in the first place. He is enough. I have rest, peace and complete freedom in Him and His cross. Now, let the Joy begin!
I needed this. All my life I tried to give my parents, teachers, and softball coaches in high school my best in everything..and it was never enough. Especially to my mom. To me it felt like my grades had to be A+++ in every class, my teachers always expecting me to understand material, and coaches pushing and pushing me to my breaking point. They all did… Now that I am starting to learn more and more about our Lord, I will admit that I tried giving him at all. I thought I was fine, and that I was doing right. Now I get told AGAIN that what I have given is not enough. Wow my heart broke and my eyes opened.. As I continued to read, the greatest sacrifice of the Lamb saved us. Jesus is our Enough and I could not be anymore happy to hear that I am not enough! Jesus thank you!
Thank you Lord for being my “enough”. I’m sure I’ll still try and try, that’s just what we women do. Especially around the holidays, Help us all to not beat ourselves up trying too hard though Jesus. Go with me today to work, and shine through me to my customers,,, let me burst with joy for you,because you are “enough”. Xoxo
Behold the Lamb of God that is my Enough
Today shocks me into rest. Rest from striving, rest from doing. Raechel your words are so wise.
“We try. We do the right thing with the wrong heart. We do the right thing with a right heart. We sing and dance and hope our Father notices. And it’s absolutely not enough.”
This hits me hard. Thank you for this heart check this morning, & for always pointing up back to the miraculous cross, where everything is brought together in hope.
Hebrews 9:14 – “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ…cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!”
Not so that I may be saved, or so I can feel better about the crummy way I’ve lived. He cleanses my conscience so that I may serve Him! Once again, it’s not about me, and I love that.
Behold the Lamb, who takes away sins. Oh for the world to see…we are not enough! I am so greatly reminded of His grace and beautiful mercy this Advent season. It makes my heart, in my most feeble attempts. want to please Him even more, for His Glory…for He is enough!
Knowing I am not enough is easy for me. Remembering it is okay – and that He is — that’s another. Thank you, SRT, for the reminder@!
I have a horrible week as a mother, teacher, wife and friend. I’ve beat myself up all week but instead of going to my Father and asking for help, I’ve told myself I can fix it. I just need to try harder. Isn’t that Satan’s greatest trick? “You don’t really need to call on Him, you’re good. You can do this!” Gracious. Satan has been telling this lie since the Garden and I still believe it! Thank you for this devotional this morning. Good stuff!!!
Hugging you with my mind because I have been in your shoes. (It was yesterday for me.) I, too, struggle with the need to do it myself, and I M still learning to rely on Him.
“How is it ok to fall perpetually short with the same sins over and over again..?” I have struggled so hard with this very thing! I don’t naturally rely on others (trust issues) so this gets me too. You are not alone!
My most recent struggles have been having to perform for a new boss at my job who is just a toxic person. When I doubt my abilities and even my appearance because if her, I prayerfully remind myself every day that the only one I need to serve and please is the most high God who made me, and I already have His favor through Jesus.
I struggle with Phariseeism, trying to work the system to get "good enough" points. Raechel, your words are right on point and cut to the heart. Even though I tell myself I am doing all my Christian stuff for the right reasons, down in my heart I am trying to be Teacher's pet. I am praying today for a shift in my heart. Lord, move me from prideful and self-righteous busy work to a lifestyle of joy and thankfulness. While my work will always fall short, Your work is enough. Always.
You spoke loudly for me today. I went to your blog and read your latest entry also. Thanks for sharing your heart and opening my eyes to my ever existing shortcomings.
Thanks, Shelia! Be encouraged that, where we fall short, Christ fills in the gap. Completely. Perfectly. Without shame!
Ok, so I want to be joyful, I want to feel the love of my Saviour…but sometimes more recently I just don’t. I know He is truth, I know He is love, I’m not doubting the Gospel at all, but I am distracted in prayer, with a ‘cant be bothered attitude’ and I don’t know why??!!! The more I persevere I harder it seems to get and I keep failing, oh boy do I keep failing…and each time it’s like, why? I know I don’t have to earn grace, I know I have a loving redemptive Saviour and the more I want to draw closer to Him the harder it is to do so. How is it ok to fall perpetually short with the same sins over and over again..? Even though I’m continually seeking I don’t feel like I’m finding right now. But here I am, pouring my heart out knowing that God loves me anyway and He is enough, even if I’m not responding how he would want me to
You ask a very good question, I’d like to share my humble experience: I struggled with the same sin, over & over & over & over & over again. I’m the midst of my struggle (7 yrs), I constantly prayed to God to bring me closer to Him, to use me for His will. I never seemed to get my prayer answered. I felt… detached. I felt an emptiness inside of me, that sometimes I would ignore, other times acknowledge that only Jesus could fill. Then I was introduced to 1 Samuel 15:22-23!!! Praise the Lord and his glorious Word! The truth is I was being partially obedient to His word and I would try to compensate by trying to DO good. I learned that partial disobedience is still disobedience. If I wanted to go deeper with Him, then I must live an obedient lifestyle, I needed to cultivate that lifestyle. (I prayed constantly for the Lord to help me HATE my sin, it worked bc I totally do!!!) Yes, we can never be or do enough to be considered righteous, only through the blood of Jesus do we have that blessing. But the Lord does call us to be obedient children. Obedience is surrendering yourself to His Word and His will for your life. And in that obedience is POWER, and a DEEPER relationship bc then God can trust you with more and more of his Spirit! Lord, I pray that your Holy Spirit moves in Shemevas life so that she begins to hate the sin she is struggling with. Create in her a pure heart, a true repentant heart so that she may have the power to turn away from her son and allow her testimony to be used to glorify your wonderful name, Lord. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Thank you…knowing I’m not alone helps so much and I will continue to look to my glorious Saviour…and be patient and thankful that He is enough. Bless you
I have been struggling with this for what seems like years and on the day of the devotion about having joy like a calf leaping from its stall I wept and begged God to finally hear me and answer my prayer for closeness, freedom and joy in Him. I felt distant and unwanted. The next morning I read the devotion that said, your joy is only as satisfying as your repentance is deep. It was the Lord speaking right to me. Showing me that it was my small sins that were separating He and I. He reignited the fire in me after so long. I cannot fully live in freedom of I am still bound by these sins. I will be praying hard for you and ask that you pray for me as well as we journey towards sanctification. Peace my sweet sister in Christ!
Shemeva, I understand what you are going through, that happens to me. I can only encourage you to hang on to that one simple truth that you are His and nothing can separate you from the love of God, not even your indifference. Hang on and remember His Word in Isaiah 40:28-31: The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the Ends of the Earth. He does not faint or grow weary, His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint (that's you and me) To him who has no might, He increases strength. Even youths shall grow faint and be weary, and young men (and women like us!) shall fall exhausted. BUT they who wait for The Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall RUN and not be weary, they shall WALK and not faint.
Thank you
Shemeva, this Christmas season that has been a burden on my heart that I've been praying for God to help me overcome. I want to be full of overwhelming gratitude for this Gift and 'feel' all those things I think I should be feeling at Christmas but doubt clouds the way and I find myself not as overcome by the enormity of God's love like I have been in the past. It bothers me that I can't appreciate Jesus like I should, but like Eunice said, God is still holding on to me. What a comfort that is! He knows our hearts–He knows we desire relationship with Him. He knows our situation better than we do! And remember that whenever we pray, whether it be with a heart that is full of desire to speak with God or a heart that is doing it because we just know we should, the only way God can hear our prayer is by the intercession of His Son, Jesus! Romans 8:26- The Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Sometimes we wonder if our prayers are being heard but a good thing for me to remember is that God is not confined by human time like we are so He is working whether we realize it or not. Roots grow underground where we can't see them but they are just as important as the flower itself. It's so hard to believe anything good could come out of feeling distant from God, but He works all things for good! (Romans 8:28).
I'm speaking to myself first because I definitely am struggling with this too and need the reminders as much as you do, but I hope that you can be encouraged too. I'll be praying for you!
Thank you Adrienne. It helps knowing I’m not alone in this.
God lavishly blesses us with His presence through the Holy Spirit. I know that He works things in my life that I could never do myself…not because of my own moral and sacrificial striving, but because I trust in Him and believe that He will.
"How much more will the blood of Christ…purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God." Heb 9:14
Jesus, would you cleanse our minds and hearts from our dead-end efforts. Would we experience your power and joy through the simplicity of what you ask from us: that we love you with all of our being and that we love each other.
This prayer speaks truth and life into my worn down body this morning. Thank you for sharing your heart with us this morning, Taylor. I pray that you will truly see the beauty and love poured out to you in the next 24 hours by our one and only Savior.
Much love. Reneé
Beautiful Taylor!! Thanks.
Sacrifices were not the sanitized image we hold in our minds today. They were bloody and messy. Jesus became a sacrifice knowing what it would entail because of how much he loved us. With that in mind, how can we doubt the forgiveness and salvation he offers?