So what is "Sacrifice"?
- Sep 14, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 28, 2020
"Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies (dedicating all of yourselves, set apart) as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship." Romans 12:1 AMP
As followers of Jesus Christ we have a limited understanding when it comes to sacrifice in relation to God, it goes deeper. We think it's when we praise God or dance before Him or when we have given Him our money. This is not what God is seeking, He's seeking for our whole heart, our everything.
"I cannot sacrifice anything that I have not dedicated myself to"
[Sacrifice = Worship]
The order is:
1) Dedication/commitment
2) Sacrifice
sac·ri·fice | something given up or lost
Sacrifice is truly sacrifice when what you give has a deep attachment to you.
We think it's sacrifice for example when we give a poor man $5 on the street. This act of kindness cannot be equated to sacrifice because it really did not cost the individual anything.
As I was writing this blog, the Holy Spirit spoke this to me so clearly.....
"The best time to give to God is when you don't have anything to offer Him."
The sacrifice you have in mind to give to God may not be the sacrifice He will accept from you. There may be a sacrifice that's higher or even lower that He will accept, its up to God to determine the value of your sacrifice.
Read Mark 12:41-44 (The Widow's Offering)
When we evaluate tithing for example, some may feel it's a sacrifice when in actuality, an obligation before God, it's part of what we are to do as believers.
"After saying you have neither desired, nor have you taken delight in sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin" (which are offered according to the law) then He said "Behold, I have come to do your will." [And so] He does away with the first [covenant as a means of atoning for sin based on animal sacrifices] so that He may inaugurate and establish the second [covenant by means of obedience]. Hebrews 10:8-9
It sounds strange when I say it's not a sacrifice for you to pay tithes but at the same time that is not what God is interested from you. As this scripture states, God is not interested in our offerings and sacrifices as stated in the law, the sacrifice He's interested in is my obedience to His will. Jesus came to do the will of God his father, which is John 3:16 KJV https://www.bible.com/1/jhn.3.16.kjv this was the ultimate sacrifice: Jesus humbling himself, fulfilling the kingdom of heaven, dying on the cross, paving the way for salvation to humanity. THIS IS TRUE SACRIFICE
But before we can get to the level of sacrifice pleasing to our Heavenly Father, we must dedicate ourselves fully to Him.
As long as you are conformed or attracted to the world in any way, you cannot dedicate yourself to God. You're not ready. When something is dedicated, it is completely set apart for a purpose, it's separated and not for anything else.
Once complete separation occurs, only then you can discern God's will for your life. [Romans 12:2] "So that you may prove (for yourselves) what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect (in his plan and purpose for you)." There's no two way about it.
Many believers want to be used by God or want to know their life purpose however how can God use you if you refused to do what was required from step 1? We expect to get ahead of God and yield results but the truth is, everything is a process embedded with difficult sacrifices, living a separated lifestyle, obedience. God's will over your life is unique to you. What God is requiring me to do may look different from you. The point is do the will of God which will require your obedience to His word. Whatever He tells you to do, even if it is not "" stated in the scriptures, do it!
Sometime ago I prayed a prayer (below) that changed my life the moment I said it out of my mouth but was sincere with my heart. All within the space of three days the Lord starting pulling things away in my life that were dear to me. I realized later on those things became an idol and hinderance to my walk and growth in Christ. If you can identify with everything in this post and are ready to go to the next level with God no matter the cost, pray the following prayer below. Don't pray it, if you're not ready to do business with God. It's from a book called "The man God uses" by Oswald Smith; he prayed this on his 38th birthday asking God to make him a man after His heart....
"Lord here are my hands; I consecrate them to Thee. May they never touch anything that thou wouldst not have them touch, or do anything that would dishonor Thee. And here are my feet; I dedicate them to thee. May they never go where thou wouldst not be seen, Here, Lord, are my eyes. May they never look upon anything that would grieve the Holy Spirit. May my ears never listen to anything dishonoring to thy name. May my mouth never be opened to speak a word that I would not want thee to hear. May my mind never retain a thought nor an imagination that would dim the sense of thy presence. May my heart know no love, cherish no feeling that is not of thee. Amen!"
"Lord, I give my all to Thee,
Friends and time and earthly store,
Soul and body, Thine to be,
Wholly Thine forever more."
“For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will.” John 6:38 NLT
Ask God to have a heart fully dedicated to Him so you can be obedient to His will over your life
Pray the prayer of Oswald J. Smith for God to make you a man/woman after His own heart
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