| ** Cost of Sacrifice ** Various things in our
lives carry different value to different people. What may be a sacrifice to some might be of
little value to another. But as we
think about dedicating our lives to the Savior, we cannot help but be touched
by the greatness of His sacrifice.
What of value will we offer to the Lord in our service? In 2 Samuel 24:24, King David states he
will not offer to the Lord that which cost him nothing. Does God still look for this attitude from
Christians today? I. The Value of What we offer a.
When we understand sacrifice and the magnitude of the God we serve, we
should desire to be a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1-2) b. The children of Israel sometimes
offered the worst rather than the best.
How did God respond? (Mal. 1:8,13-14)
c. We must be certain to not offer a blemished sacrifice as we live
before a Holy God! (Titus 2:14, 1 Cor. 12, Phil.1:20) II.
It costs Nothing to Give Nothing
a. There are certain things we
may offer to God, but are they REALLY a sacrifice? b.
Remember the people of God in the Old Testament. Consider what they had to do and the work
involved in the giving of their sacrifices to God. (2 Chron.15, 29, 35) c. God asks for our best –what are you
willing to give? (Matt. 6:24, 1 Thess. 5:22, Rom. 6:1-2, 12) III. Who will pay the Cost? a.
Christ calls us to be a people willing to give all for Him! (Matt.
19:29) b. “Surrender or destruction
of something prized for something of higher value” is one definition of
sacrifice. Let’s remember how much value God places on our souls. c. Christ was willing to give what none of
us could. He paid the cost for us. (2
Cor. 5:21, 1 Peter 3:18, Gal. 3:13) We
face the same question that King David did; what can we offer to God to make
our sin right? We can give the
sacrifice of true and full obedience to Him.
Yes, it will cost us something, but that is part of what it means to
serve the Most High. Do not try to
offer God that which costs you nothing. It will not please Him, nor will it
save your soul. Let us be willing and
happy to offer our lives of service to Him who created and gave all for
us! |
