01/08/2024
Today’s topic deals with what is expected of us in regard to our lives. There are some who believe that the ultimate offering of our life is to sacrifice it in death or lay it down in service to God; but that isn't the case. That sacrifice has been made; Jesus was the one perfect offering for the redemption of sin. God loved us enough to do this for us… not for Himself, nor to lead us into death for any other reason. We have been saved once, and for all, by Christ alone.
“” For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.””
John 3:16-17 ESV
I have heard many sermons over the years where the word sacrifice has been used loosely in terms of giving ourselves to God. This can be a confusing message, and we would be better served if pastors would use the word yielding. God's will is what needs to be served here and accomplishing that by dying is very-very seldom what brings that about... and even those instances are not true sacrifices.
Abraham was taught a lesson in sacrifice that we should take to heart. He was led to the point of offering his son on an altar to God when suddenly an angel appeared with a ram...
“And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.”
Genesis 22:9 KJV
This was a case of God making a point for us to see. He was showing generations to come the righteousness of Abraham and his unwavering love for Him. Once Abraham had brought Isaac to the point of laying him on the altar, God's purpose had been accomplished and we see that God's will was never to take Isaac from his father. There would only be one sacrifice unto death... Jesus.
“And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.”
Genesis 22:12 KJV
Of course, Isaac probably slept with one eye open for years following this incident, and the Bible doesn't record what was said between father and son in the aftermath of this near tragedy. Perhaps Isaac heard the Lord's voice as well.
No, God doesn't want our lives, nor our blood. He has the life and blood of Jesus. What He wants is for us to serve Him in life, and to do His will. He wants us to become righteous and holy... set apart for His service and glory. He wants us to dedicate ourselves to Him and be willing to bear the hardships that His will might demand of us. Paul delivers this message to the Romans...
“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. 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.”
Romans 12:1-2 KJV
We yield our life, and our lives to God by living for Him. We place Jesus before us and by serving Him we can come before the Father washed in the blood of His perfect and sole sacrifice unto death for our sins. There is nothing left to sacrifice our lives for... it has all been accomplished through Christ. It was God’s will that Jesus not simply die for us, but that He should pick His life up for us. Jesus was given this authority… we are not; nor is it necessary.
Prayer:
Father I thank you for offering your Son Jesus in perfect sacrifice that I would be washed of my sins. I thank you Lord Jesus for obeying your Father's will and enduring the suffering and death that I might be rescued from the sins that have held me captive. You suffered and took upon yourself my iniquities; you defeated death; you washed me clean and made me pure... I praise your name! Father God, I know the love I have for my sons and can only imagine the pain I would feel in not only losing one, but offering him up by my own hand. Father, how great is your love for us to have endured that heartbreak and pain. I fall before your throne, and I kiss the nail scared feet of your Son Jesus. May I yield my life to you by serving you in the way I live, and in doing your will every moment of every day with all my heart and soul. Praised be your name. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you who is my God, and the reason for my living. Hear my prayers, and may I always pray them in words of life and living, not death.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Amen!
“For this reason the Father loves me [Jesus], because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.””
John 10:17-18 ESV
“Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.”
Luke 20:38 ESV
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:23 ESV
Rich Forbes