Recently, I stepped into a congregation to minister; I had driven for about three hours to get there. As my flesh began to overrate the sacrifice I made to get there, the Holy Spirit whispered; “Son, when you consider what Christ left to come reach humanity on earth, you would not consider this a sacrifice.” It humbled me.
Friend, you can call something a sacrifice if it’s something you lose entirely. But this is not the case with following God. If you lose your life, you would gain it (Matthew 16:25). Serving God and making sacrifices must not be overrated. It is a rare privilege that we must not take for granted.
Today, we are all enjoying the benefits of redemption because of the sacrifice of Jesus. When we consider the sacrifice of Christ for us, we would realize that there is nothing we do for Him today that is really a sacrifice. Most of what we do for God is actually for us, not God (Ephesians 6:8).
Never see sacrifice as a big deal; you have only done what is expected of you. Like that servant in Luke 17, you have gone through thick and thin serving your master, yet he would not allow you to rest. Know that you have only done what is expected of you (Luke 17:7-10). As a pastor, you have cared and sacrificed for the flock; you have only done what is expected of you.
You have just given your first million as a sacrifice for God’s work; you have only done what is expected of you. You were in church all day cleaning and arranging; you have only done what is expected of you. Serving God costs, but the payment of it far outweighs it costs (2 Samuel 24:24).
If it does not cost you, it is not a sacrifice. If it does not touch you, it may not touch God. It may be your most expensive perfume like Mary, your brand new tomb like Joseph of Arimathaea, or your credentials like Paul; see it as a privilege with its attendant blessings (Malachi 3:14-18, Luke 23:50-53, John 12:3-8, Philippians 3:4-10). If Jesus paid the ultimate price with His life, no price is too big for you to pay.
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria