We had an interesting sermon this week on sacrifice and non-negotiables based on Genesis 22.
SIDE NOTE: This is the story where God asks Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac.. who God decided to wait until Abraham was the ripe old age of 100 or something before God blessed Abraham and Sarah with a child... only one. And Abraham did it. I mean, well God, after He saw that Abraham would actually sacrifice his son God told him to not do it... You should probably just read the story.
Anyways, we got on the subject of non-negotiables. Like, as a Christian, you may be willing to give up most everything for Jesus but usually we each have something or things that fall into the non-negotiable category. As in, I would give up anything for Jesus, but if God really asked me to sacrifice my husband, or parents, or sister for Him I would truly question my devotion to God.... and I would question my sanity even more but I digress.
So on Sunday we have the sermon and then midweek (On Wednesdays.. also known as slow-cooker night at the hiz-house P.S. Why did Snoop Dog bring an umbrella to the Oscars? Fo' drizzle!!) we have a small group Bible study that delves deeper into the message... and it comes with a study sheet. It's intense. Like camping.
Cale and I got talking about our non-negotiables and obviously said that Abraham was a greater Christian than us (duh) because we would probably at least question God if asked to sacrifice a person closer to us. But really, if I was honest with myself, it would probably take much less to test my faith. I say that I would be fine without money, material comfort, a car, my health, my husband's health, my Kitchen-Aid mixer (.. k, maybe not), etc. but it this was all really taken away from me I would have to admit (ashamedly) this would probably be real test of my faith.
P.S. I did not really think about this until Cale brought it up. That husband.. he's a thinker.
Shoot, I've already failed at my giving up Starbucks. And that isn't really even a sacrifice. Dang!
Truth of the matter though, Abraham had fantastic faith that led to fantastic obedience. While we look at that story and see a great act of obedience think of the even greater act of faith that was behind it. And what's even greater is that God actually followed through and sacrificed His only Son. Because we are his non-negotiables. What awesome love.
The End.
Also, you can listen to the sermon here. It's the sermon entitled, "Does This Mean I Have to Sacrifice...". Because I'm sure I missed a lot of good points. And messed up a bunch of others.
P.S. I still haven't drank any soda at home (this was my original Lenten sacrifice).
P.P.S. I realize this may sound pitiful to some of you. Until you realize how much I love soda. Hey, don't judge. I rationalize this by working out, not smoking, not drinking, and getting plenty of sleep.
P.P.P.S. I'm really good at rationalizing.
SIDE NOTE: This is the story where God asks Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac.. who God decided to wait until Abraham was the ripe old age of 100 or something before God blessed Abraham and Sarah with a child... only one. And Abraham did it. I mean, well God, after He saw that Abraham would actually sacrifice his son God told him to not do it... You should probably just read the story.
Anyways, we got on the subject of non-negotiables. Like, as a Christian, you may be willing to give up most everything for Jesus but usually we each have something or things that fall into the non-negotiable category. As in, I would give up anything for Jesus, but if God really asked me to sacrifice my husband, or parents, or sister for Him I would truly question my devotion to God.... and I would question my sanity even more but I digress.
So on Sunday we have the sermon and then midweek (On Wednesdays.. also known as slow-cooker night at the hiz-house P.S. Why did Snoop Dog bring an umbrella to the Oscars? Fo' drizzle!!) we have a small group Bible study that delves deeper into the message... and it comes with a study sheet. It's intense. Like camping.
Cale and I got talking about our non-negotiables and obviously said that Abraham was a greater Christian than us (duh) because we would probably at least question God if asked to sacrifice a person closer to us. But really, if I was honest with myself, it would probably take much less to test my faith. I say that I would be fine without money, material comfort, a car, my health, my husband's health, my Kitchen-Aid mixer (.. k, maybe not), etc. but it this was all really taken away from me I would have to admit (ashamedly) this would probably be real test of my faith.
P.S. I did not really think about this until Cale brought it up. That husband.. he's a thinker.
Shoot, I've already failed at my giving up Starbucks. And that isn't really even a sacrifice. Dang!
Truth of the matter though, Abraham had fantastic faith that led to fantastic obedience. While we look at that story and see a great act of obedience think of the even greater act of faith that was behind it. And what's even greater is that God actually followed through and sacrificed His only Son. Because we are his non-negotiables. What awesome love.
The End.
Also, you can listen to the sermon here. It's the sermon entitled, "Does This Mean I Have to Sacrifice...". Because I'm sure I missed a lot of good points. And messed up a bunch of others.
P.S. I still haven't drank any soda at home (this was my original Lenten sacrifice).
P.P.S. I realize this may sound pitiful to some of you. Until you realize how much I love soda. Hey, don't judge. I rationalize this by working out, not smoking, not drinking, and getting plenty of sleep.
P.P.P.S. I'm really good at rationalizing.
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