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JOYFUL SACRIFICE
TUESDAY, MAY 16
Philippians 2:17-18

1 Thessalonians 2:17-20

 

“…offered upon the sacrifice

and service of your faith…”

 

JOYFUL SACRIFICE
 
There will be times when living as a Christian will cost you – whether it be in the persecution you experience for the cause of Christ, or the things you give up for testimony’s sake, or the time, effort and energy expended in the service of Christ. All these require a sacrifice on your part, or as Paul put it, to “be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith.”
 
The Greek word that is translated as “offered” is the technical term used to describe being poured out as a drink offering as is described in Numbers 15:5. He saw his life of service likened to being poured out on the altar of sacrifice before the Lord. He was willing to spend and be spent (2 Cor 12:15), to the point that his whole life was consumed for the service of the Lord.
 
Yet it was a service done with joy. He said through the life of sacrifice, “I joy, and rejoice with you all.” It was also an infectious joy, that as they saw the joy in Paul, they too would have joy, and rejoice together with him. This can only happen when we all have the same spiritual purpose and priorities, that we are all concerned about the glory of God and the edification of the saints.
 
What brings you true joy and the greatest delight? Whatever it is that gives you joy, it will be what you are willing to sacrifice for and to put in the effort to attain. If we seek after the things of the world, then that is where we will invest our time and effort on. If it is Christ, then our service will be a joy and a delight, and we will do so very willingly and not just out of mere obligation.
 
We must never see the task of maintaining a testimony for the Lord as a drudgery or chore. We must not regard service as a burden imposed on us. Rather, we ought to see it as a joyful endeavour. In fact, it is a great privilege that we, as sinful and unworthy as we are, are granted the honour of serving the most high God!
 
THOUGHT: Will parents who truly love their children ever begrudge the sacrifices made in ensuring their happiness?
PRAYER: Father, help me to understand what a great privilege it is to give of my life as a living sacrifice for Thee.

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