Follower or Imitator - Where is Your Sacrifice?

The Ultimate Sacrifice- Once For All

In 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Paul tells us what is the most important aspect of discipleship. He expresses the fullness of the gospel in a few succinct sentences,

 “For what I received I passed onto you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” 

No Christian really needs anything greater than these three truths: 

Christ died. Christ was buried. Christ rose again.

But what prompted the gospel story to come to fruition? One word – Sacrifice. 

The ultimate sacrifice. The once-for-all sacrifice. The complete sacrifice.

The Greek word for sacrifice is thusia, meaning “an offering”. Jesus was the fragrant offering before the Father as remission for our sin. 

The necessity of sacrifice dates all the way back to the days of Cain and Abel. And the concept of “proper sacrifice” dates to the same time. Cain brought an unacceptable sacrifice before the Lord. Not because he was unaware or ignorant of what he should present. No…it was the hardness of his heart towards the Lord, his selfishness to keep the best for himself, that kept him from bringing his best for the Lord. Abel, on the other hand, brought the best of his flock to present before the Lord. He gave out of a heart of obedience and love to God what he knew was required and what would be a fragrant offering to the Lord.

So it is with us today. We are presented, on a daily basis, with the choice of the sacrifice we will offer to the Lord. Are we willing to give up our time? Our money? Our dreams and desires? Are we truly willing to lay down all for the Lord, just as He was willing to lay down all for us? 

In contrast, are their things we just cannot let go of? Things we are not willing to part with because they are too dear to us?

Further still, are we willing to sacrifice for our fellow man? There are countless brave souls who currently serve, and have served through the ages, in our armed forces, police forces, and emergency services. These men and women face the worst of humanity to protect and ensure the safety of those they love and treasure, as well as complete strangers. They do not count life as “less”. They do not count their own life as more valuable. They are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to keep peace and safety for people.

Jesus sacrificed. Military forces sacrifice. First responders sacrifice. But what about us? Normal, everyday people. Moms and dads, employees, students, disabled, elderly, crippled? 

Every person can sacrifice something. Your best will likely be completely different than your neighbor – but you know what your best is. 

Are you willing to give it?

Questions:

1.   What can we do to begin to sacrifice, a little more, every day?

2.   What is our best? What are the things that we know God is calling us to lay on the alter that we have yet to let go? 

3.   In what ways have we put ourselves before others? Is there anyone that we have held in hatred or jealousy because their offering was acceptable before God and ours was not, as in the story of Cain and Abel? Do we need to seek forgiveness or restoration in a relationship, or forgiveness from the Lord so our future offerings will be acceptable before God?

Scriptures to Consider:

John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this; than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Eph 5:2 “And walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

Luke 9:24 “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.”

Prov 3:9 “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops.”

Mark 10:45 “For even the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom to many.”

“A sacrifice to be real must cost, must hurt, and must empty ourselves. Give yourself fully to God. He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in His love than in your weakness “  - Mother Teresa