Sacrifice isn’t Nice

Numerous times, we hear believers say, “How many sacrifices have I made to be a Christian?” This question can be paraphrased to also “all these sacrifices I’ve made to come to Christ” and even “look at all I had to give up to come to Christ or live this Christian-life!” I shake my head, wondering, why we are complaining about the decision to come to a Savior. Jesus Christ is our Savior, who has taken the keys from Hell so that we can spend an eternal life with Him in Heaven. He sacrificed his very life on the cross, for the billions of souls to eternally be in a place of gold streets, beautifully stoned pearly gates, and rewarded with our crowns in a heavenly kingdom.

Many of us have lost the mindset of our eternal beings, where our souls will rest and continue to focus on the physical realm and what we see instead of what we believe. As believers, we are to stand on the Word of God and its promises. We are different and set apart from the worldly standards where they “get” and suffer from the “more disease” by believing that if they do whatever it takes to get what they want and get it at all costs regardless of whom it will hurt or destroy in the process. Then, once they get it, they believe they have to get more and more to be satisfied especially what the media demonstrates to the viewers through commercials, movies, and other multimedia tactics. This is another device of the enemy to have a selfish motive and mentality to “get and just do it” whereas with Jesus, the Word tells us “give to receive” which is opposite of the worldly perspective.

^“4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵ casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, ⁶ and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled” (2 Corinthians 10:4-6, New King James Version).

Overall, these are weapons of our warfare with a carnal mindset instead of seeking God first—He will supply all our needs. We focus too highly on our wants. Let us remove these rationale thoughts, logical thinking, and arguments to exalt ourselves and need to bring to captivity to the obedience to Jesus Christ. We have seen what disobedience can do to others, by the examples in the Bible. Think about one king’s disobedience by stepping into the throne room where only priests were allowed to enter. He thought because he had royalty reign that he can go above and beyond the godly reign; overstepped his boundaries and YHWH God struck him dead as soon as he stepped over the threshold. Another example is Israelites disobedience throughout the Bible which led to their wilderness for 40 years, their deaths due to idolatry, and lost kingdoms due to pride or jealousy. In the Old Testament, children who were disobedient to their parents or guardians were stoned to death. Yes, today, we were blessed with God’s grace after Jesus sacrifice on the wooden cross. Yet, please do not take God’s grace and mercy for granted. He is still a sovereign, a mighty God, who will do as He wills.

Ultimately, the Bible tells us that “obedience is better than sacrifice.” Therefore, Jesus tells us if we love Him, we would obey His commandments. Let us stop making excuses for sin or even our sacrifices we’ve made in the sake of Jesus Christ, and abide in love by obeying all that YHWH God tells us to do both in His Word and our daily walk. God gives us Jesus opportunities, meaning that we can show that Jesus lives by using us as servants, his godly vessels, to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and heal the sick including a word of encouragement. Some will be willing to make that sacrifice to obey God’s Word, no matter what it takes! Be the remnant who will abide in the Word of God, will not do what everyone else will do or say, and do as the Lord commands.

Sometimes, when we sow, we are making sacrifices to give when we see very little we have in our bank accounts, finances, and hard to believe that God will provide. Jesus viewed the offerings, and a woman of honor noted as a widow who put all she had in the offering basket as everyone else gave out of their abundance. She gave out of her poverty. There was another widow who was stopped by the prophet Elijah to feed him a meal, which she told him she only had enough oil and cornmeal to make bread for her and her son, then to die. She obeyed the prophet of God, Elijah, and he ate the meal first. She gave all she had. Her baskets were replenished and never went hungry again, ate many meals thereafter. We are to tithe only 10% and offerings are above our tithes; yet, again believers are complaining how they are making a sacrifice to give when they can hardly live. In other words, they are continuing to review their finances and wonder how I will pay all these bills and provide meals when I am to give my first fruits to my local church body or where I am fed such as virtual ministries. Stop focusing on the sacrifices you made to be a Christian, since our Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice—gave his life to save your life!

[Jesus said,] “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.”

Keep in mind we are complete in Jesus Christ. Everything you have given up and been transformed from your former lifestyle is worth all the sacrifices since you are now the prototype of Jesus Christ. For those who do not know Christ, they are able to look at you and see your light shine in their lives as they desire to have the same peace and love you showcase to them. Continue to believe in God’s Word, keep God in every equation, and you surely will be rewarded exceedingly and abundantly beyond what you can imagine (see Ephesians 3:20).

^“Finally, brothers and sisters, keep your thoughts on whatever is right or deserves praise: things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable” (Philippians 4:8, God’s Word Translation).

We also have to understand that once we come to Christ, even the just will go through trials and tribulations. Yet, we know that with Jesus, this name alone gives us power and authority to see miracles manifest, and when things seem impossible He makes it possible (Luke 18:27). If we put our mind in Christ, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. We can sing praises, give God glory for our story, and the joy of the Lord is our strength. Moreover, Jesus told us to “pick up the cross” when we agree to follow Him. Therefore, we can review in the Bible Jesus story when He walked on this face of this earth and see how he was tempted but stood on the bread of life (Word of God), witnessed to the lost, healed the sick, and performed other miraculous blessings in many lives for others to witness including the disciples. He left behind His Holy Spirit, where if only we believe, we can also receive these blessings in our lives too.

Adrienna Turner

www.adriennaturner.webs.com