Category Archives: Sacrifice

Jul 16

The Greatest Rescue Story Ever Known

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Perhaps like many of you, I recently was drawn in to the captivating story of the 12 young boys and their soccer coach who were trapped inside the cave in Thailand. For nine days the boys sat in the dark probably wondering if they were ever going to make it out to see the light of day again. After what we can only imagine was nine of the longest days of their lives, the boys and their coach were discovered by rescuers. The last of the boys and their coach emerged from the mouth of the cave nearly three weeks after first becoming trapped. What started as a nightmare ended up being a “feel good” story we won’t soon forget.

 

However, as great as this rescue story was, another rescue story trumps them all and that is the rescue story each one of us is involved in. Friends, the Son of Man came from heaven to earth so He could rescue us (Jn. 1:14; I Cor. 15:3). We learn from Hebrews that it was impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away our sins (Heb. 10:4). Therefore, Jesus came to offer Himself as a sacrifice for our sins, rescuing us from the dark pit of hell. Had Jesus not come, you and I would be without hope.

 

This is the greatest rescue story of all time, but sadly it is one that is too often forgotten. Jesus, who was in the form of God (Phil. 2:6; Jn. 1:1-4), left the glory of heaven to come to earth and be treated as anything but God. He was born in a manger (Lk. 2:1-7), despised and rejected by men (Isa. 53:3; Jn. 1:10-11) and sentenced to death in the most inhumane way possible in that time (Matt. 27:24-54). He endured all this just to rescue us.

 

Watching the young boys and their coach being rescued was heartwarming, something I will never forget. However, some 2,000 years ago, Jesus left the wonders of heaven and traveled down to earth to rescue and save us from being eternally lost. His great love for us (Gal. 2:20) is and always will be the greatest rescue story the world will ever know.

 

Now that’s Something to Think About!

 

Dec 31

What’s Your Bowl of Stew?

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Photo Credit: sizima via Compfight cc

Have you ever been hungry? I’m not talking about just feeling like it’s time to eat. No, I’m talking about really being hungry, even to the point of feeling sick and weak. Have you ever felt like that? Esau did, and it cost him dearly.

In Genesis 25:29-34 we read about Esau coming in from the field hungry. He was so hungry, he asked Jacob for a bowl of his stew. Jacob, seeing this as a prime opportunity, told Esau he could have a bowl of stew if he was willing to part with his birthright. What happened next was one of the biggest mistakes of Esau’s life. Esau, thinking he was going to die of hunger, traded his birthright for a small bowl of stew.

Esau was willing to give up his birthright (a double portion of his father’s inheritance) for something as insignificant as a bowl of stew. Friends, this is the same plague that affects our society today. How many people are willing to sacrifice something so special for something so trivial? Just think of the special things today people will trade in for a moment or two of something which will eventually pass away.

  • Pornography! How many men, and women for that matter, have traded in their happy families in order to fulfill a moment of lustful desire?
  • Adultery! How many people have traded in a long mature marriage in order to fulfill the fleeting desires of the flesh? (see 2 Samuel 11)
  • Workaholic! How many people have traded in precious time with their families, especially their children, in order to work long and unnecessary hours to gain an extra dollar?
  • Cheating! How many people are willing to trade in honesty and integrity in order to move up in the corporate world?
  • Man-Pleaser! How many people have traded in their obedience to God in order to gain the respect and approval of mere man? (see Galatians 1:10)

You see, friends, Esau gave up something that should have been special to him to fulfill a desire of the flesh, and people in our society do the very same thing. People today are willing to trade in their marriages, families, honesty, integrity and obedience to God for something as worthless as a bowl of stew.

What about you? Are you willing to trade something special for something of no value? Think about it…“What’s your bowl of stew?”

Now that’s Something to Think About!

Jan 24

Homecoming King Gives Up Crown

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With all the negative media coverage lately, I thought it would be good to share something positive for a change. The following link is to a video about a high school homecoming court from Middle Tennessee who placed the interest of another student above their own. Take a few minutes and watch this video, you will be glad you did.

http://www.wkrn.com/story/20652447/homecoming-king-gives-up-crown-to-another-student

Feb 24

What Are You Willing To Give Up?

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What are you willing to give up for your religious beliefs? I dare say that most of us would be willing to give up almost anything for our religious beliefs, at least things that have no attraction for us. For instance, I would gladly give up alcohol and drugs because I have no desire to have either in my life. However, some people would choose the alcohol and drugs because either they enjoy them or they think alcohol and drugs make them look cool.  Still others are willing to choose sex, popularity and status over their convictions. What are you willing to sacrifice for your convictions?
Joel Northup was willing to give up a state championship for his religious beliefs. Northup, a sophomore in high school, refused to wrestle his first round opponent in the Iowa high school state tournament last week. His reason for forfeiting the match was because his first round opponent was a girl. Joel Northup felt that wrestling with a girl would conflict with his religious beliefs, because he would most likely have to touch her in inappropriate places.
I don’t know about you, but I have a lot of respect for this young man. He was willing to forfeit a match that he was favored to win, because of his religious beliefs.  By refusing to wrestle, Joel single handedly sacrificed his shot at a state title, something for which all athletes on the high school level strive. A lot of people probably thought he was crazy. Why sacrifice something so big like a state title for something so little as a religious belief? I mean, it’s not like he was going to intentionally touch and grope this girl. He was just going to compete against her as he would any other opponent on the mat.
When you read through scripture you find others who were willing to give up things of value and places of superiority for their beliefs and convictions. Take Joseph for example. While in Egypt his master’s wife pleaded with him to sleep with her. I have no doubts that Potiphar’s wife was very attractive. After all, Potiphar was an Egyptian officer in Pharaoh’s army. He was an important person in Egypt. However, instead of giving in to her advances, Joseph refused her day after day. Listen to what Joseph said, “How then could I do this great evil and sin against God?” (Gen. 39:9) Joseph was willing to give up sexual pleasure in order to remain true to His God.
Daniel is another example who was willing to sacrifice something most would consider important because of his convictions. Daniel was taken captive by the Babylonians, when they invaded Judah around 605 BC, for the purpose of serving in the king’s court. In time Daniel became an important figure in the Babylonian empire. Each time a new king took the throne Daniel always found favor in his eyes. In chapter 6 Daniel refused to obey a decree to only pray to the king and not any other god or man for thirty days. Daniel was sentenced to the lion’s den. However, we tend to overlook that before this situation occurred, the king was planning to appoint Daniel over the entire kingdom (Dan. 6:3). Daniel was willing to give up prominence in the kingdom for his convictions and beliefs.
This list could go on and on. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego were willing to give up their lives for their convictions (Dan. 3). All the apostles were willing to give up the pleasures of life for their convictions. Many of the early Christians were willing to sacrifice all they had for their convictions. Many men and women throughout history have been willing to give up pleasure and prominence for their convictions.
What are you willing to give up for your convictions? Joel Northup was willing to sacrifice the Iowa high school state wrestling championship because of his religious beliefs. Jesus said, “If any man will come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me” (Matt. 16:24). I hope and pray each one of you reading this is willing to give up and sacrifice everything that gets in the way of your relationship with God. In the end, that’s all that truly matters in life. Jesus said, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” (Matt. 16:26).
What are you willing to give up in order to stay true to your convictions? Are you willing to sacrifice something as big as a state title? Joel Northup was!
Now that’s Something to Think About!