Two people I coached this last high school track and field season separated themselves from everyone else. They spent their energy working to improve daily while their teammates operated at half-throttle or less. Significantly improving their throwing abilities was not worth the effort for the majority.
Our sacrifices reflect how much we love something. About ten thousand people flew from the U.S. to attend a Taylor Swift concert in Stockholm in 2024.1 StubHub told CBS News that the average price for a Super Bowl ticket in 2024 was $8,600.2
How much do we sacrifice for Jesus? Do we pat ourselves on the back because we spend an hour or two regularly in a church sanctuary while our neighbors do not? Is our Christian commitment more than that plus giving spare money to the church? Are our sacrifices worthy of a great King?
Pastors in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia use my book, “His Power for Your Weakness” to teach the basics of following Jesus. Their classes last for four weeks, thirty-three hours each week. That is 132 hours. An African pastor created that format.
That is like sitting through 214 average-length U.S. pastoral sermons in four weeks—more than seven a day. Many students ride their bicycles long distances to attend, some as many as twenty miles one way.
About two-thirds without Bibles request a free copy to study the Scriptures my book references. The free Bibles attract many students.
Would we expend that much effort to obtain a Bible if we didn’t already have one? What sacrifices are we making to know Jesus better, make Him known to others, and do His will?
A half-throttle, minimal-commitment brand of Christianity does not please God. What is following Jesus costing us? How many people would agree that following Him is our defining passion?
A proper God-pleasing sacrifice boils down to giving God the best that we have.
“On the seventh day of the festival, sacrifice seven young bulls, two rams, and fourteen one-year-old male lambs, all with no defects” (Numbers 29:32 NLT).
God detests defective sacrifices (Deuteronomy 17:1) because the sacrificial system foreshadows the once-for-all sacrifice of His sinless Son for our sins. Defective sacrifices disrespect God.
“’ Cursed is the cheat who promises to give a fine ram from his flock but then sacrifices a defective one to the Lord. For I am a great king,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, ‘and my name is feared among the nations!’” (Malachi 1:14 NLT).
What is a worthy, pleasing sacrifice? Before we sacrifice anything else, we must sacrifice our pride and reconcile relationships with those we have offended (Matthew 5:23–24).
Motivated by love, Jesus voluntarily gave up His life to forgive our sins (Matthew 26:28, John 10:15, Ephesians 5:2). That is the pattern for our sacrifices.
We must be living sacrifices motivated by love, voluntarily giving up our time, treasures, talents, and energy so others can experience the forgiveness Jesus died to provide. That is God’s love flowing through us (1 John 4:10).
God provided a body for Jesus to sacrifice for others (Hebrews 10:5). He has given us bodies to do the same. We are to gratefully worship Him by offering those bodies to Him as living and holy sacrifices to do the good deeds He has planned for us (Romans 12:1, Ephesians 2:10).
That includes financial investment in furthering His Kingdom’s work (Philippians 4:18), praising and proclaiming our allegiance to Him, doing good, and sharing with those in need (Hebrews 13:15–16). Offer a sacrifice that is worthy of God. See additional free spiritual growth resources for Christians.
God has empowered me to write “His Power for Your Weakness—260 Steps Toward Spiritual Strength.” It’s a free evangelistic, devotional, and discipleship eBook. Pastors have used it in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia to lead more than 2,550 people to Christ and teach the basics of Christianity to 7,775 people. I invite you to check it out.
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