How can we apply the principle of sacrifice in our daily Christian walk? Opening Scripture “They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats as a sin offering for the kingdom, for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And Hezekiah commanded the priests, the sons of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of the LORD.” (2 Chronicles 29:21) Why This Old Testament Scene Matters Today - God required literal, costly offerings. Nothing cheap or symbolic would do. - The number seven signals completeness: the whole nation was placing itself under God’s cleansing and authority. - Hezekiah’s immediate obedience shows that sacrifice is not optional add-on worship; it is core to revival and renewal. - Under the new covenant we no longer bring animals, yet the principle of wholehearted, costly surrender remains (Romans 12:1). Jesus: The Fulfillment and Model of Sacrifice - “And walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.” (Ephesians 5:2) - Because His once-for-all sacrifice finished the sin offering, our daily sacrifices are responses of gratitude, not payments for guilt. - His example is both substitutionary (He died in our place) and exemplary (He shows how to give ourselves for God and others). What a “Living Sacrifice” Looks Like (Romans 12:1) Present your bodies—your entire self—as an offering set apart for God. In practice this touches every area: Time • Yield prime hours, not leftovers, for Scripture, prayer, and serving. • Guard the Lord’s Day and build in moments of rest that honor Him. Talents • Identify spiritual gifts and natural abilities, then deploy them for the gospel, not just personal gain. • Accept assignments that stretch faith, trusting God to empower. Treasures • Budget generosity first, not last. • Give quietly, cheerfully, and sacrificially so that heaven, not earth, records the applause (Philippians 4:18). Tongue • “Continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess His name.” (Hebrews 13:15) • Replace criticism with encouragement; speak truth even when it costs popularity. Relationships • Forgive quickly; bitterness is an undetected idol consuming the altar space of the heart. • Actively love enemies, mirroring Christ’s sacrificial love. Lifestyle Choices • Choose holiness over convenience in entertainment, business ethics, and personal purity. • Fast occasionally; let hunger remind you that God alone satisfies. Sacrifices God Especially Values - Broken spirit & contrite heart (Psalm 51:17) - Doing good and sharing resources (Hebrews 13:16) - Hospitality to the marginalized (Matthew 25:40) - Persistent intercession for others (Colossians 4:12) Each one may cost comfort, reputation, or resources—precisely what qualifies it as sacrifice. Guardrails That Keep Sacrifice Joyful, Not Drudgery • Remember motive: love responding to mercy, not earning favor. • Keep Christ’s sufficiency central; we add nothing to His atonement. • Stay in community; “you…are being built into a spiritual house…to offer spiritual sacrifices” (1 Peter 2:5). • Celebrate small acts; the Father sees even the cup of cold water offered in Jesus’ name. Living the Principle Today - Start each morning by consciously placing the day on God’s altar: “Everything is Yours—use it.” - Look for ordinary moments that can be turned into offerings: a kind word, an unnoticed chore, a private act of generosity. - Review your day at night: Where did I lay something precious on the altar? Where did I hold back? Confess, thank, and rest in grace. Encouragement to Press On The temple sacrifices of Hezekiah’s day demanded costly animals. Our Lord calls for something even deeper: ourselves. Yet every act of surrender releases blessing, fuels joy, and advances His kingdom purposes. By grace, let’s keep the altar hot with living sacrifices that echo through eternity. |
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