A devoted Father, God is present in His children’s lives every day. Having your Father there and being there with your Father, however, are not the same things. His love is always poured out to us. But we don’t benefit from it if we don’t respond. Unrequited love in romance novels provides narrative tension. In real life, the life that matters eternally, God’s love unrequited leaves us lost and doomed. We need to reciprocate His love through daily sacrifice, prayer, and praise.

Exodus 29:38-39
38 “Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two lambs of the first year, day by day continually.
39 One lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight. NKJV

Within His instructions to Moses about the establishment of the tabernacle and its services, the Lord prescribed the daily sacrifice of one lamb in the morning and another in the evening. He classified them as burnt offerings, completely given over to the Lord through the flames of the altar.

Exodus 29:42-43
42 This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the Lord, where I will meet you to speak with you.
43 And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by My glory. NKJV

It was at the time and in the place of sacrifice that God promised to meet and speak with His people. Every Old Testament sacrifice speaks of Jesus and illuminates our walk with Him into the Father’s heart. Morning and evening should find us in our Father’s presence with a heart of sacrifice, the Lord’s first and then ours.

1 John 1:5-9
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. KJV

The daily sacrifice of the tabernacle and temple system was a burnt offering, wholly given up to God in the flames of the altar. The signature description of this sacrifice in the Authorized Version is “sweetsmelling savour.” In love, Christ offered Himself to God for us as a burnt offering.[1] Morning and evening are perfect times to examine ourselves and apply through confession the cleansing blood of the Lamb. Sanctified by His glory, we can then walk in the light of His love.

Romans 12:1-2
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. KJV

When we meet with God in the morning and evening hours of sacrifice, we offer our lives to Him in the light of the death and resurrection of Jesus who has made us wholly acceptable in the beloved. Washed in the blood, all our breathing hours are to be filled with continuous communion with God.

1 Thessalonians 5:17
Pray without ceasing. KJV

Each day brings its own challenges, but we bring consistent needs to each day. We are always in need of His mercy, instruction, and sustenance.

Psalm 86:1-3
1 Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy.
2 Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.
3 Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily. KJV

The sun has never risen to find us without need of God’s mercy. Any honest review of our daily behavior will expose the darkness of sin hiding out in our intents and actions. Godly sorrow would move us to weep over sin and turn from it so joy may find us in the new dawning.

Psalm 30:3-5
3 O Lord, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
4 Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. KJV

In life, we may have bad days, worse days, and truly terrifying ones. Jeremiah lived through them all. He spent his prophetic ministry warning Judah of God’s impending wrath only to watch them willingly wander headlong into destruction. As he reviewed the righteous judgment of God poured out upon Jerusalem, he consoled himself in the sure hope of the Lord’s mercy and love.

Lamentations 3:19-23
19 Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall!
20 My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me.
21 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ESV

Regardless our trials, His mercies are new every morning. All we need do is ask.

Psalm 30:10-12
10 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me: Lord, be thou my helper.
11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever. KJV

[1] Eph. 5:2.