In our everyday use of the word sacrifice, we usually use the term substitution. We choose to not get one thing in order to achieve something of greater value. Parents sacrifice a new car to save money for a child’s college education. In sport's, a base ball player executes a "sacrifice fly" to give a team mate an opportunity to score a run. In the Old Testament a sacrifice was an act of worship by which the blood of an animal was shed to obtain forgiveness from sin.
Sacrifice, in the Bible, is not just giving up something you would rather keep. Sacrifice is “anything consecrated and offered to God.” That offering may be difficult or easy to give. In one sense, sacrifice is obedience, although obedience is not necessarily sacrifice.
A Lifestyle of Sacrifice starts with being a Living Sacrifice.
Rom 12:1 AMP I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.
Paul’s admonition to the believers in Rome was to sacrifice themselves to God, not as a sacrifice on the altar, as the Mosaic Law required, but as a daily living sacrifice.
How do we do that and what does a living sacrifice look like?
Rom 12:2 NKJV And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove (to yourself) what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
or
Rom 12:2 NLT Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
The world is defined for us in 1 John 2:15-16 as;
the lust of the flesh,
the lust of the eyes,
and the pride of life.
All that the world has to offer can be reduced to these three things:
1. The lust of the flesh; includes everything that appeals to our appetites and involves excessive desires for food, drink, sex, and anything else that satisfies physical needs.
2. Lust of the eyes; mostly involves materialism, coveting whatever we see that we don’t have and envying those who have what we want.
3. The pride of life; is defined by any ambition for that which puffs us up and puts us on the throne of our own lives.
Unless this victory over the world is begun in the heart, a man has no root in himself, but will fall away, or at most remain unfruitful.
In the book of 2 Corinthians chapters 8-9 Paul talked about a special Sacrifice called Giving which he actually calls a “Grace”. We refer to it as the Grace of Giving or Sacrificial Giving.
The following story represents Sacrificial Giving;
Mar 12:41-44 NKJV Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. (42) Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. (43) So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; (44) for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood."
Some quick thoughts, we'll work backwards;
Verse 44; Abundant Giving is good (Jesus doesn't reject their giving), Sacrificial Giving is better! It is noteworthy.
Verse 43; Jesus values our giving differently than we do? It is not how great the amount but how great the sacrifice. What will her return be? Are you looking for a Return or a Reward?
Verse 42; “one poor widow”, why doesn't Jesus call her by name if she is so important? Of course Jesus knows her name but, He does one better by telling us her condition. What do think it was like for a “poor widow” during Jesus' time? Jesus knows more than my name, He knows my condition, what I am going through, where I am not just physically but emotionally and spiritually too.
“Two mites” was about an eight of a penny.
Verse 41; Jesus purposely sat in a position to see what everyone was giving! “Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw”... He is seated in a position On-High and is still watching today...
If you are a man and the “King” of your home, then everyone sacrifices or substitutes what they want for what you want.
If you are a man and Christ is The King of your home, then you sacrifice or substitute what you want for what everyone needs.
If you are a man and a child of The King, then Jesus has sacrificed or has become your substitutionary atonement for your sins, so that we can have eternal life and all that brings.
When we truly recognize all that Christ has done for us, we will want to offer ourselves wholly to God with a Lifestyle of Sacrifice to him. Our tithes and offerings will reflect this and flow freely from a heart of gratitude.
Dr. W.A. Criswell tells about the faithful missionary couple who returned to the United States on the same ship that brought Teddy Roosevelt home from a safari in Africa in 1909. Many reporters and photographers were on the dock, waiting to see Roosevelt and interview him and take pictures; but nobody was on hand to welcome home the veteran missionaries who had spent their lives serving Christ in Africa.
That evening, in their modest hotel room, the couple reviewed their arrival in New York City; and the husband was somewhat bitter.
“It isn’t fair,” he said to his wife. “Mr. Roosevelt comes home from a hunting trip, and the whole country is out to meet him. We get home after sacrificing years of service, and nobody was there to greet us.”
But his wife had the right answer:
“Honey, we aren’t home yet.”
Rev 22:12 NLT "Look, I am coming soon, bringing My reward with Me to repay all people according to their deeds.
