Making Sacrifices

Today’s worship thought is about making sacrifices. The Bible is clear that the only sacrifice we need for our sins to be forgiven is the sacrifice that Jesus Christ gave for us by dying on the cross. (Hebrew 10:1-4, 10) Yet, there is a sacrifice that God does challenge His followers to make. It is not a sacrifice to pay for our sins, but is a sacrifice made that we might be rewarded with a closer relationship with Him. This area of sacrifice is called fasting.

Before making a sacrifice to the Lord keep in mind that according to Psalm 51:17 God is not pleased in our physical sacrifices as much as He is with our mental and emotional sacrifices such as being broken and humble before Him.

Literally, fasting means going without food. Generally and loosely, fasting can mean voluntarily giving up something or making some sort of personal sacrifice. Some of Jesus’ instructions on fasting can be found in Matthew chapter six.

"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth; they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

- Matthew 6:16-18 (NIV)

A few years ago our youth ministry participated in a forty-day spiritual campaign. As part of the program we were challenged to fast or sacrifice something for the entire campaign. It could be just about anything as long as it allowed you to spend more time with the Lord. Many students chose to take some sort of media fast (TV, internet, radio), or some sort of food fast (meat, soft drinks, candy), or some sort of activity fast (sports or games). For me, I chose to give up soft drinks and the radio in my car. That may seem simple, but it really did allow me to spend more time with the Lord especially on that thirty-minute commute.

If you have a little sense of adventure and you want to walk closer to the Lord then I challenge you sacrifice something this week that will allow you to spend more time with Him. Write the terms of your fast (what it is and the time period) in your Bible or somewhere safe that you won’t lose it and let the adventure begin!