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SACRIFICE SAFETY SALVATION SARCASM SATAN SATISFACTION SAVIOR SCHEDULE SCRIPTURE SECOND COMING OF JESUS SECURITY SELF-CENTEREDNESS SELF-CONFIDENCE SELF-CONTROL SELF-ESTEEM SELFISHNESS SELF-PITY SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS SELF-WORTH SENSITIVITY SEPARATION SERVING SEX SHAME SHARING SICKNESS SIGNS SILENCE SIMPLICITY SIN SINCERITY SINGING SINGLENESS SKEPTICISM SKILLS SLAVERY SLEEP SOCIETY SOLITUDE SOLUTIONS SORROW SOUL SOVEREIGNTY SPEAKING SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES SPIRITUAL GIFTS SPIRITUAL GROWTH SPIRITUAL REBIRTH STATUS STEWARDSHIP STRENGTH STRESS STUBBORNNESS STUMBLING BLOCKS SUBMISSION SUCCESS SUFFERING SUPERIORITY SURPRISES
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SACRIFICE
(Discipline, Gift, Offering)
What types of sacrifice are pleasing to God?
BIBLE READING: 1 Chronicles 21:1-30
KEY BIBLE VERSE: The king replied to Araunah, āNo, I insist on paying what it is worth. I cannot take what is yours and give it to the LORD. I will not offer a burnt offering that has cost me nothing!ā (1 Chronicles 21:24)
God is pleased with a sacrifice that costs us something.
When David wanted to buy Araunahās land to build an altar, Araunah generously offered it as a gift. But David refused, saying, āI will not . . . offer a burnt offering that has cost me nothing.ā David wanted to offer a sacrifice to God. The word sacrifice implies giving something that costs the giver in terms of self, time, or money. To give sacrificially requires more than a token effort or gift. God wants us to give voluntarily, but he wants it to mean something. Giving to God what costs you nothing does not demonstrate commitment.
BIBLE READING: Psalm 50:1-15
KEY BIBLE VERSE: I donāt need the bulls you sacrifice; I donāt need the blood of goats. What I want instead is your true thanks to God; I want you to fulfill your vows to the Most High. Trust me in your times of trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory. (Psalm 50:13-15)
God is pleased with a sacrifice that comes from true love and obedience.
Godās perfect moral nature demands that the penalty for sin be death. Under the old covenant, a person could offer an animal to God as a substitute for himself, symbolizing the personās faith in the merciful, forgiving God. But, the people were offering sacrifices as part of their worship ritual and forgetting their significance! The very act of sacrifice showed that they had once agreed to follow God wholeheartedly. But at this time their hearts were not in it, so their sacrifices were not pleasing to God, and thus were worthless. We may fall into the same pattern when we participate in religious activities, tithe, or attend church out of habit or conformity rather than out of heartfelt love and obedience. God wants righteousness, not empty ritual.
BIBLE READING: Matthew 8:18-22
KEY BIBLE VERSE: One of the teachers of religious law said to him, āTeacher, I will follow you no matter where you go!ā But Jesus said, āFoxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but I, the Son of Man, have no home of my own, not even a place to lay my head.ā (Matthew 8:19-20)
God is pleased with the sacrifice of following his Son.
Following Jesus is not always easy or comfortable. Often it means great cost and sacrifice, with no earthly rewards or security. Jesus didnāt have a place to call home. You may find that following Christ costs you popularity, friendships, leisure time, or treasured habits. But while the cost of following Christ is high, the value of being Christās disciple is even higher. Discipleship is an investment that lasts for eternity and yields incredible rewards.
BIBLE READING: Matthew 19:16-30
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Jesus told him, āIf you want to be perfect, go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.ā (Matthew 19:21)
God is pleased with a sacrificial attitude that puts everything we have at his disposal.
Should all believers sell everything they own? No. We are responsible to care for our own needs and the needs of our families so that we will not be a burden on others. We should, however, be willing to give up anything if God asks us to do so. This kind of attitude allows nothing to come between us and God and keeps us from using our God-given wealth selfishly. If you are comforted by the fact that Christ did not tell all his followers to sell all their possessions, then you may be too attached to what you have.
BIBLE READING: Romans 9:1-5
KEY BIBLE VERSE: In the presence of Christ, I speak with utter truthfulnessāI do not lieāand my conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm that what I am saying is true. My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursedācut off from Christ!āif that would save them. (Romans 9:1-3)
God is pleased with a sacrificial attitude that shows real love for others.
Paul expressed concern for his Jewish ābrothers and sistersā by saying that he would willingly take their punishment if that would save them. While the only one who can save us is Christ, Paul showed a rare depth of love. Like Jesus, he was willing to sacrifice for others. How concerned are you for those who donāt know Christ? Are you willing to sacrifice your time, money, energy, comfort, and safety to see them come to faith in Jesus?
BIBLE READING: Romans 12:1-8
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrificeāthe kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? (Romans 12:1)
God is pleased with sacrificial living, because it shows obedience and gratitude for his grace.
When sacrificing an animal according to Godās law, a priest would kill the animal, cut it in pieces, and place it on the altar. Sacrifice was important, but even in the Old Testament God made it clear that obedience from the heart was much more important (see 1 Samuel 15:22; Psalm 40:6; Amos 5:21-24). God wants us to offer ourself, not animals, as a living sacrificeādaily laying aside our own desires to follow him, putting all our energy and resources at his disposal and trusting him to guide us. We do this out of gratitude that our sins have been forgiven.
God has good, pleasing, and perfect plans for his children. He wants us to be transformed people with renewed minds, living to honor and obey him....
