The Foundation of our Faith…
Hey Friends,
Just exactly what is our faith built upon? Well, we could list several things but one is for sure, and that is SACRIFICE! Yes, sacrifice, and that of our Heavenly Father. First, He sacrificed His time and attention from heaven to create the universe and our home. He then created us knowing all along we would rebel and turn from Him. After our mutiny He sacrificed His Son on the cross so that we have our sins paid for. I call that a real sacrifice! So, if we are Christ-followers and the Scripture says for us to do as He did, shouldn’t we be marked by sacrifice also? Since the Kingdom of God is built on it, we should be very familiar friends with it. Wouldn’t you agree?
So how does that look for us? Surely society should see it – but they don’t, by the way!!!!! What can we sacrifice?
1. Time for the Lord and to serve Him.
2. Money for the Kingdom and those hurting around us.
3. Stuff we like – by using all we have for Jesus such as cars, houses…
4. Our attention and affection – given to God and the things He loves. He did it for us.
Over the years Michele and I have given time, money, boats, cars, and our hearts to Jesus and building His Kingdom. The problem is, it is hard to out-give Him. When we sacrifice, He moves because of it and the faith we have shown by blowing us away. Wow!
We serve a great God. What is on your list of sacrificed things?
Just a thought.
Pastor
P.S. As leaders it is very important that we lead the way in sacrifice if we want those we lead to do the same.
4 Comments
Debbie yesterday eloquently summed it up, in my opinion. It starts small and increases for One reason and ONE reason alone Jesus: “If you love me keep My commandments.” Everything we think and do, by way of Jesus, will lead us into an ever increasing life of sacrifice, because as time mutters by we are chosen to be changed into His very image. Some will look like Peter and some will look like John, but the end is the same, we will look like Jesus. I am speaking of the character of life we live.Some readily and some with a little trouble.
When Jesus washed their feet He said to them:”What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter”.He readied them for the life they would lead and enabled them to sacrifice by His own example. He blesses us by the same action.
Jn. 13:7-17.
I see that we will “know” what sacrifice means. And bless Peter’s heart, he seems a little slow sometimes, but I love him. Wash my head and hands, he says. I see by that statement his life characterized, (Jam. 4:8). He needed to be taught understanding and humbled for his call was huge. He needed to forsake what he thought for what Jesus knew, and Jesus helped him all the more to fulfill his call, freely.
No matter how many unsacrificial mistakes some of us make if we continue to get up, dust ourselves off and try, Jesus will not abandon our efforts. For sacrifice we must if we aspire and desire God. Peter’s story gives me hope. Jn. 21.
God is such a genius!!!! As I have been going about my day thinking on Him, it was impressed upon me I can pray over each item of clothing as I do laundry. I can pray over each inch of floor as I sweep and mop. I can pray over our sleeping places as I make the beds. I can pray over the bathrooms, as I clean them, where we ready ourselves each morning for the day before us, so that our days are used for His good!!! It may seem simple minded, but all my life I have never thought this way. That this one simple act could bless those that I love the most, MY FAMILY. What a sacrifice of love!!! I say that because I do not enjoy, much, the thankless job, the neverending job of cleaning. I think now I may see it differently.
What a beautiful analogy, Sabrina! Your precious children have a mother that humbles herself in the simplest of ways for their good. I am reminded of Pastor’s comment that the nursery worker is just as important as he is! We all can work together in our separate lives for His good, even us stay-at-home people that sometimes feel “simple-minded,” but we too have an impact on others, though it may be mostly our own families. But it doesn’t feel simple-minded to me either. God is our Master, whatever we do. Don’t you just love the diversity He gave us…not to mention His awesome love!? Those dust bunnies are smiling!
I think the most difficult thing to sacrifice is time. I have found in my past that giving up possessions is not easy, but I always have the thought in my head that one day I can get another one. But time isn’t that way. Once we sacrifice time, it’s gone. Although those sacrifices have often resulted in the most success.