WHEN YOU THINK OF THE WORD “SACRIFICE” WHAT IS THE FIRST THING THAT COMES TO MIND? BLOOD? SUFFERING? FASTING? GIVING UP SOMETHING OF VALUE TO YOU? THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I THOUGHT ABOUT. IT’S OBVIOUSLY NOT A HAPPY SOUNDING WORD. YET, TO THE HEBREWS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT IT WAS A REQUIREMENT FOR STAYING IN RIGHT RELATION TO GOD.
THE HEBREW WORD IS “KORBAN”. IT IS FROM THE SAME ROOT AS “TO COME NEAR OR CLOSE; TO APPROACH”. THE OLD TESTAMENT ANIMAL AND GRAIN SACRIFICES WERE ONLY A SHADOW OF THE PERFECT SACRIFICE TO COME –UNDER THE NEW COVENANT WHEN JESUS CHRIST WAS REVEALED AS THE MESSIAH AND THE LAMB OF GOD.
“HAVING THEREFORE, BRETHERN, BOLDNESS TO ENTER INTO THE HOLIEST BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS BY A NEW AND LIVING WAY, WHICH HE HAS CONSECRATED FOR US, THROUGH THE VEIL, THAT IS TO SAY HIS FLESH; AND HAVING AN HIGH PRIEST OVER THE HOUSE OF GOD; LET US DRAW NEAR WITH A TRUE HEART IN FULL ASSURANCE OF FAITH, HAVING OUR HEARTS SPRINKLED FROM AN EVIL CONSCIENCE, AND OUR BODIES WASHED WITH PURE WATER.
HEBREWS 10: 19-22.
THE GIFT WE OFFER TO HIM HAS TO BE SPOTLESS. NO SIN CAN MAR OUR GIVING. THAT’S WHY IT’S SO GLORIOUS THAT HIS WORD READS: “THE SACRIFICES OF GOD ARE A BROKEN SPIRIT: A BROKEN AND CONTRITE HEART, O GOD, THOU WILL NOT DESPISE.” (PSALM 51:17) JESUS, THE SPOTLESS LAMB, PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO ENTER INTO HIS HOLY PRESENCE, TO DRAW NEAR TO HIM, TO BE FORGIVEN AND TO RECEIVE A CLEANSED HEART, FILLED WITH FAITH IN HIM.
HE’S THE SOURCE AND HE’S THE GOAL OF OUR FAITH. THE WALK HE TOOK ON THE ROAD TO CALVARY WAS A WILLING WALK FROM HIS HEART. HE KNEW WHAT LIE AHEAD AT THAT CRUEL CROSS BUT HE ALSO KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE WORTH THE JOURNEY…WORTH EVERY BIT OF PAIN, SUFFERING AND SHAME. THOUGH WE CANNOT FULLY FATHOM ALL THE AGONY THAT HE EXPERIENCED FROM THE BEGINNING TO END, WE ARE CALLED TO FELLOWSHIP IN HIS SUFFERINGS.
A Heart Sacrifice Will Bring Resurrection
“I AM CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST, NEVERTHELESS I LIVE, YET NOT I; BUT THE LIFE THAT I NOW LIVE, I LIVE BY THE FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD WHO LOVED ME AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME…” GALATIANS 2:20
WE CAN SACRIFICE MANY THINGS IN THE NAME OF GOD–TIME, MONEY, FOOD, RELATIONSHIPS, OR WORK. BUT IF OUR LOVE FOR HIM IS NOT MOTIVATING THE GIVING THEN IT’S ALL IN VAIN. REMEMBER KORBAN MEANS DRAW NEAR. IF WE SACRIFICE FOR LOVE THEN WE WILL BE DRAWING NEAR TO HIM – AND HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO US.
It's all about dying to self and living for our Lord and Savior. It's dying that we may live in and through Him. For a beautiful Resurrection Story pdf go here. The first story is called The Three Trees and is my favorite. It's perfect for children and youth. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE HOW YOU DRAW CLOSE TO JESUS AND HOW HE DRAWS NEAR TO YOU?
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