The Obedient Living Sacrifice
Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father? … The fire and wood are here, … but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together. (Gen 22:7-8)
You are warmly welcome!
This about it: what if God chose you to become the sacrifice? Not that Isaac was suspecting anything, but he asked and got an answer; Abraham new the instruction but could not reveal it then – what if the boy runs away! I can just imagine that journey, including the tying of Isaac to lay him at the prepared altar. As Paul uses the scary phrase: ‘a living sacrifice’ – we have here in Genesis the classic example. But since He gives the life, God deserves any kind of sacrifice – including you! It is in this similar vein that some have suffered to the point of death for the sake of the Gospel. Celebrating redemption at the wondrous cross, Isaac Watts disdains the greatest material gifts and asserts, “Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.”
Sacrifice is a concept that is well understood among many peoples – whether sacrificing to various gods or to the Almighty Sovereign God, it is the very heart of worship. In one of his books, Prof Edison Kalengyo surveys Sacrifice in the Letter to the Hebrews, where the ultimate is presented. But first let us take note of the counterfeit: in Satanic worship, if chicken and goats are good offerings, then bulls are even better – the bigger the sacrifice, the better gods are appeased, invoking greater miracles; the next levels demand human sacrifice – a child, then a bigger and close person, like a mother or a brother! Some people make these horrible sacrifices to get and/or maintain earthly wealth and power.
In authentic worship, sacrifice is required to make God happy and bring life to the people. In Hebrews, the epitome of sacrifice is presented – the ultimate living sacrifice: “But when Christ came as high priest… He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption” (Heb 9:11-12). Now that all that could be achieved by sacrifice has been achieved by Jesus Christ, what remains for us?
‘Present your bodies as a living sacrifice’ (Rom 12:1). You may not shed blood at the woods with fire under, but God continues to demand our hearts and lives, living to honour Him and walk according to His leading – as an obedience living sacrifice. Joyfully bring your gifts to God; and support all development agenda – there are many projects at hand even now. But most importantly, the Lord needs your life fully committed to Him; he requires full surrender to Him, and He will direct your path.
God bless you all.