FRIDAY: SACRIFICE
KEY PASSAGE
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
DEVOTIONAL
John 3:16 is probably the most familiar, most often quoted, most read, most recited verse in the Bible. This verse simply states the miraculous redemption God brings to the world through Jesus. There are a few things to remember when we consider this verse:
First, remember this is Jesus speaking. These are red letters in your Bible. He is having a conversation with a Pharisee named Nicodemus who is curious about Jesus and what he means by being born again. This is how Jesus explains the gospel.
Second, remember that God loves the world. This was a radical statement at the time, especially from a Jewish perspective. Nicodemus would believe that God loves Israel, but would have never heard that God’s love extended to the entire world. This was an eye-opening moment for Nicodemus, and it should be for us as well. God so loved the world—our world.
Third, remember that God gave. He gave freely, out of His love for you. His gift was given not only to you but to the entire world. His gift is the greatest gift that He could give: Himself. Jesus, the greatest sacrifice.
Think of what you would sacrifice for your greatest love. Would you give the most you have for who you love the most? Of course you would. What are you willing to sacrifice for Jesus?
In Matthew 16:25, Jesus says “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”
Sacrifice is giving something, for something. Jesus gave His life for us, we can give our lives for Him. In doing this, Jesus says, we will find life. We “shall not perish but have eternal life.”
CHALLENGE
Over these 3 weeks you have been challenged to consider your priorities and to ask yourself who is lord of your life. With a deeper understanding of where you are, consider God’s great love for you and the sacrifice that was made for you. Jesus on the cross. His suffering and pain. His death and resurrection. Consider all that God has given you. All that He has done for you. Consider what you are willing to give. God doesn’t want any less than everything.
Romans 12:1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Take a moment to remember Jesus’ sacrifice through taking communion.