Sacrifice

      In II Samuel 24, David numbered Israel. Because God had not authorized this action, He punished David. Offered three choices for the punishment, David chose three days of pestilence from the hand of the Lord, saying, “for His mercies are great.”

      The pestilence killed 70,000 from Dan to Beersheba, but the Lord did show mercy when His angel came to Jerusalem. He allowed David to offer a sacrifice and end the pestilence.

      David came to the threshing floor of Araunah and offered to purchase it so he might erect an altar. Araunah essentially said, “No way. You can have it for free. How could I keep it from you at a time like this?” But David knew it was his sacrifice and he said, “I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God which cost me nothing.” Then he purchased the threshing floor and oxen to sacrifice. The pestilence subsided.

      As I consider this story, I can’t help but think about God’s sacrifice for us. Our soul is plagued with a pestilence. However, to remove that pestilence, God offered the sacrifice. That sacrifice cost us nothing. God by His mercy and grace gave His own Son, demonstrating His love for us that our souls might be healed (I John 4:9-10).

      We could never earn such salvation. We could never purchase such purity. We could never merit such mercy. If we could, it wouldn’t be mercy.

      Yet, God has asked something of us. According to Galatians 2:20, we are to be crucified with Christ. According to Romans 12:1-2, we are to present our bodies a living sacrifice.

      Sadly, however, though we know we are to be a sacrifice, many Christians act as though their sacrifice should cost nothing. Sure, they will give up a Sunday morning now and then. However, ask much more than that and God is asking too much. Ask them to sacrifice mornings so they can pray and study… Ask them to sacrifice evenings so they can teach others and they balk. “You can’t ask that of me. I’m saved by grace. I don’t have to do those things to be saved.”

      Ask them to sacrifice foul language and dirty jokes…Ask them to sacrifice music that celebrates immorality and sin…Ask them to sacrifice movies and television shows that corrupt good morals and they start to back peddle. “You can’t draw those kinds of lines and judge me. You aren’t allowed to tell me what to do.”

      What did we expect when we became Christians? Sacrifice costs. Cost hurts. We give up something when we become Christians. We give up control of our lives. However, consider what we gain—salvation from the pestilence of sin that is killing so many around us. I think it is worth it. Don‘t you?

Edwin L. Crozier