Personal Sacrifice

Acts 21: 7-14

7 When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais; and we greeted the believers and stayed with them for one day. 8 The next day we left and came to Caesarea; and we went into the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9 He had four unmarried daughters who had the gift of prophecy. 10 While we were staying there for several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 He came to us and took Paul’s belt, bound his own feet and hands with it, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is the way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’” 12 When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 Since he would not be persuaded, we remained silent except to say, “The Lord’s will be done.”

What are we willing to sacrifice for the Lord Jesus?  Many of us don’t like it when the sermon runs into our lunch plans or when we are called upon to serve on committees, or when we are asked to contribute money.  Occasionally a preacher is accused of stepping on toes with a sermon and we do not like to be made uncomfortable.

Paul was willing to sacrifice his comfort, his meals, his money, his time, and even his life for the gospel.  Sacrifice is a major tenet of Christianity.  As Christians, we  are called to sacrifice our pride, our hate, our selfishness and our very lives to Christ.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)