Ezekiel 46:13 - Homiletics

The homing sacrifice.

I. THE MORNING SHOULD BE DEDICATED TO GOD . Then especially worship is fitting. It is sad to begin the day without prayer. But the fresh morning devotion has a preciousness of its own.

1. Then we awake from sleep . It is happy indeed to wake to some good thought of God. He has preserved us through the long hours of darkness. New strength has come by refreshing rest, and this is God's gift. Therefore grateful thoughts should rise with morning worship.

2. Then we commence a new day . Has the fig tree been fruitless hitherto? Yet in his long-suffering patience the Master has not cut it down. Here is another opportunity for fruit-bearing. Shall this new one be wasted as were so many of bygone clays?

"Lo! here hath been dawning

Another blue day:

Think, wilt thou let it

Slip useless away?

Out of eternity

This new day is born;

Into eternity

At night will return.

"Behold it aforetime

No eye ever did;

So soon it forever

From all eyes is hid."

(Carlyle.)

II. EVERY NEW MORNING SHOULD BE DEDICATED ANEW . We may think we have dedicated our lives to God. Yet we need to renew the dedication—to dedicate our clays as well as our years. Every day brings its fresh duties, and these need the grace of Christ, that they may be rightly discharged. Every day also brings its new temptations. We cannot live today in the grace of yesterday. The manna fell daily to feed the Israelites in the wilderness, and it would not bear keeping for the morrow. Christ teaches us to pray for daily bread: "Give us this day our daily bread."

III. THE BEST DEDICATION OF THE NEW DAY IS BY SACRIFICE . The Israelites dedicated each day with morning burnt offerings. Although we have outgrown the necessity of using these symbolical offerings, we can never outgrow the requirement of sacrifice. It is well to begin the day in the spirit of sacrifice. First there should be the desire to slay all sin and renounce all bad habits. Then comes the positive self-denial and cross-bearing for the sake of Christ. Is there any new sacrifice of love that may be offered on the new day? Throughout the day this thought should pervade the mind of the Christian: "I am a servant of Christ. It is my part today to study my Master's will, and live for his glory."

IV. THE DEDICATED DAY WILL BE A BLESSED DAY . It may not see any great event. But it will be a day spent for God, in lowly service, perhaps, yet in holy living. Such a day is one sure stepping-stone towards heaven.