Ephesians 5:2 "And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour."
How much are you willing to sacrifice for God? There are many who aren't willing to sacrifice for God. They will sacrifice some things but not other things. God wants us to be willing to sacrifice all for Him.
--Some won't sacrifice family time. They won't go to church because they have family visiting. Take the family with you. Some won't show up for prayer meeting because that is family night. They think if we aren't having church service that they don't need to be there. Last time I checked...the Bible says not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together (Hebrews 10:25). He doesn't say what times or occasions to forsake it....just that we are not to forsake anytime we as a church assemble together.
--Some won't sacrifice jobs. They work a job they know that God isn't pleased with yet they love their job or its all they know to do so they refuse to change jobs.
--Some won't sacrifice sports. Either Junior has a game and they feel its more important to be a the ballgame instead of church...or there is a ballgame on tv that they just can't miss because their favorite team is playing.
--Some won't sacrifice their home. There is a missionary family coming in and they need a place to stay and people aren't willing to open up their home to let them stay. God gave us our homes and desires to use His people to give visiting preachers and their families to stay in. And maybe you don't have the space for them to stay...how about having them over for a meal so they don't have to pay to go out to eat.
--Some don't sacrifice their money. They would rather rob God or miss out on not helping someone with a need than to part with their money in obedience to Him. God honors our sacrifice. He tells us in Malachi 3:10 "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."
--Some won't sacrifice comfort. They would rather have that expensive furniture or car for the comfort of it than to have something less expensive and keep from going further into debt.
How much are you willing to sacrifice? Shouldn't we be willing to sacrifice all? He sacrificed all for us. Jesus left Heaven to come and die a cruel death for us. He died for you...He saved you...He grants you daily benefits.
I owe Him so much. I owe Him my life and all that I have.
If you aren't sacrificing like you should be...just surrender everything you are and everything you have to Him and begin obeying Him in this area of your life. When you do you will see Him bless you abundantly for your obedience.
6 comments:
Wow, this is a sobering post! Reading it over really made me stop and think about how much more I could really sacrifice to the Lord. Thanks for this Sister Julie!
I originally came to ask if you could update your link to my blog. The new url is http://www.youngfundamentalists.com(I don't have the blogspot anymore). Thanks, and keep posting like this. They are very good!
I always think of the song, "Is your all on the Altar?" I love that song because it was the first to make me think if I was sacrificing all that I should for the Lord many years ago as a young girl. I used to have a hard time thinking of one of my family going far away as a missionary but I learned it is best for them to be far away and right with the LOrd than next door and be out of God's will. great post. connie from Texas
bro. david...welcome back!! You've been away from my blog for a while. I have changed your url in my links list. I'm sorry that I hadn't done that. I was still able to get to your site and didn't think it mattered....so I apologize for not changing it sooner. Thank you for your comment.
sis. connie...amen!! I love that song too. It makes me search my heart each time I hear it.
Julie -
This was such a good post! It really made me stop and think. I've been reading a book written by a Christian man about diet, exercise, and sacrificing certain foods, ways of eating, etc, in order to take care of our bodies for the glory of God. It's been getting me excited but the focus has been more on the "me" part and what it can do for "me", you know what I mean? And then I read your post and thought, do I get as excited about all these other areas of sacrifice you mentioned which are not really "me" focused (although it will definitely make me happy if I obey!) Very convicting!
pamelak...I'm glad this post was a help to you. All I can say is praise the Lord!!
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