In today’s world, the concept of living a life of sacrifice is counter-cultural. However, as followers of Christ, our lives should look different from the world.
Let’s take a deeper look into what it looks like to live lives fully surrendered to Jesus.
The Bible is full of examples and exhortations to live a life of sacrifice. Romans 12:1 is a perfect example.
This verse reminds us that our entire being – our thoughts, actions, and desires – should be surrendered to God. When we think about this in light of who God is, a God who is merciful, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, it changes how we view sacrifice. We don’t sacrifice to earn His love but as a response to His love. Just as Paul says in Romans 12, it is our spiritual act of worship.
Throughout Scripture, we witness countless individuals who embody this spirit of sacrifice. Abraham, the father of faith, was willing to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac at God’s command (Genesis 22). The prophet Jeremiah endured persecution and hardship for proclaiming God’s message (Jeremiah 20:7-9). In the New Testament, we see the sacrificial love of the early Christians who sold their possessions and shared with those in need (Acts 2:44-45). We also see the ultimate example of sacrifice in the life and death of Jesus Christ, who willingly laid down His life (John 3:16).
While the examples in Scripture are inspiring and given to us by God, we need not look far to find modern-day heroes who have embraced a life of sacrifice for the sake of the Gospel. Missionaries like Jim Elliot, who gave his life while spreading the Good News to an unreached tribe in Ecuador, or Mother Teresa, who dedicated her life to serving the poorest of the poor in Calcutta, exemplify the spirit of sacrificial living.
Another modern-day example is Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German pastor and theologian who stood against the Nazi regime during World War II. His resistance to tyranny and his ultimate martyrdom exemplify the cost of discipleship and the call to live sacrificially for the sake of justice and truth.
The ultimate example of sacrificial living is found in Jesus. His entire life and ministry were marked by selflessness and service. Jesus himself said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). His willingness to lay down his life for humanity is the greatest act of love and sacrifice.
It’s almost worth noticing that Jesus, the Son of God, willingly laid aside His heavenly glory, took on human form (Philippians 2:6-8), and willingly gave His life.
Jesus’ whole life embodied a life of sacrifice. He lived a life of humility, service, and obedience, culminating in His sacrificial death on the cross. While the word “sacrifice” has a strong connotation, it is worth mentioning that Hebrews 12 says that Jesus endured the cross “for the joy that was set before him….and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” As Elisabeth Elliot said, “Suffering is never for nothing.” In His sacrifice, Jesus knew it wasn’t a waste. He knew what He was accomplishing.
In His sacrifice, there was joy and reward awaiting Him. That’s true for us in our sacrifices for the sake of His Kingdom, too.
While the call to sacrifice may seem daunting, Scripture offers us numerous promises and assurances that make this journey not only worthwhile but also deeply fulfilling.
In Matthew 16:25, Jesus declares, “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” This paradoxical statement reminds us that true life is found not in self-preservation but in self-denial and sacrifice for the sake of Christ.
Furthermore, Scripture promises that those who sacrifice for God will be rewarded. In Mark 10:29-30, Jesus assures us that “there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.”
These promises remind us that our sacrifices are not in vain. God sees our hearts and our willingness to lay down our lives for His purposes, and He promises to be with us to the end of the age.
May we be inspired by the examples in Scripture and the modern-day heroes who have gone before us. May we find the courage and strength to live a life of sacrifice, knowing that in doing so, we will experience the abundant life that Christ has promised.
