SACRIFICE is a part of the Christian faith. From a biblical perspective, sacrifice is when we give a portion of our time, energy and earthly possessions for God’s work and for His people. Our willingness to sacrifice is an example of our devotion to God. Back in the day, in the Old Testament, sacrifice came in two forms: unbloody and bloody. Unbloody means things like first-fruits and tithes. Bloody means things like the killing of creatures, burning them and offering them up to God. People offered sacrifices to God as an atonement for their sins. Once God made the ultimate sacrifice, allowing His son to die and rise again for our sins, the meaning of sacrifice shifted away from atonement for sins to more of being of service to God and others, becoming a LIVING SACRIFICE.
So how do you become a living sacrifice? First, you have to fix your heart. If you don’t have a giving heart, you will not have the will to make sacrifices in your life and since God is a God of FREE WILL, He is not going to force you to make sacrifices. It will be completely left up to you. So fix your heart. Also, you have to discern the will of God, live a Godly life and not conform to the ways of the world. You can’t live in both worlds. One negates the other. The choice is up to you. But God can help you with that decision through your prayers to Him. Tell Him you want to be a living sacrifice for Him and you want to change your mindset from what you want to what He wants. Ask Him to show you His will and give you the strength to act upon it.
Now, don’t get sacrifice confused with obedience. Those are two totally separate things. Just because you are sacrificing your time, possessions and energy to do God’s work and help others, that does not mean you are being obedient to the commandments and teachings of the Bible and encouraging others to do so as well. Sacrifice does not replace obedience. You still have to live a Godly life and follow His word in order for Him to honor your sacrifices.
The last thing I want say, is that I know you have heard the workout term, “feel the burn.” Well, it applies to sacrifice. If you are sacrificing anything and and you don’t feel at least a pinch, you might need to sacrifice a little more. True sacrifice causes a little discomfort on your end. Have you heard the saying, “give until it hurts?” That’s a sacrifice. No pain, no gain, And the gain you will receive will come from God. But don’t let that be the driving force for you to be a living sacrifice. The driving force for being a living sacrifice should be to please God.
With Agape Love,
Willie Mae