22: Sacrifice

There is a bridge to cross the great divide! Jesus Christ sacrificed His life for us. Through His death on the cross, all our sins were transferred to Him, and He died in our place creating a way to restored relationship between God and us.

When we put our faith and trust in Christ, the Bible says, “we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10).

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

1 John 4:10 “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

Ephesians 5:2 “And live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

Romans 12:1 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

The sacrifice and humility of Christ is astounding! He voluntarily emptied Himself of anything and everything standing in the way of the glory and gain of His Father through Him.

• What about you? What are you holding onto so tightly? Is there something you feel God is asking you to let go of? What sacrifice might enable you to fulfill God’s agenda for your life?  Spend some time at the cross today asking Jesus to show you where you might need to sacrifice (rights, privileges, pleasures, possessions, expectations, plans…).
• In the Bible our body is not significant simply because of the way it looks, rather because of the way it acts. The body is given to us to make visible the beauty of Christ.  Pray about how you can present your body as a living sacrifice, as a spiritual act of worship and display the beautiful character of Christ in you to others.  How might you show mercy and extend grace today?
• Celebrate the cross! Listen to the song The Great Divide by Point of Grace and celebrate the sacrifice God has provided for you in Jesus Christ. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVv4bj2MiL8

Julianne August, Prayer Catalyst