"No, but I will surely buy it for the full price; for I will not take what is yours for the LORD, or offer a burnt offering which costs me nothing." 1Chronicles 21:24
Did you know that God calls us to a life of sacrifice; to give up our personal agendas and dreams and aspirations for eternal things? Sacrifice brings true freedom and blessing. It demonstrates the reality of our faith, conveys the truthfulness of our love and validates the depth of our commitment.
Sacrifice is the foundation of a healthy relationship with God; it’s the glue that cements the relationship between the divine and humanity. Out of great love, God sacrificed for us and because of our love for Him, we incorporate personal sacrifice into our everyday life by participating in kingdom purposes.
In our Scripture, King David went looking for a place to offer sacrifice to God because He had disobeyed God and numbered Israel from Beersheba to Dan. God was displeased with this and smote Israel. The prophet Gad commanded David to go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
When Araunah saw David, he prostrated himself before David with his face to the ground. He tried to give the threshing floor to King David for free but he said to Araunah, "No, but I will surely buy it for the full price; for I will not take what is yours for the LORD, or offer a burnt offering which costs me nothing."
David understood that if it doesn’t cost, it doesn’t count. You see sacrifice is the willingness and sometimes even eagerness to give up something valuable for something or someone we consider more valuable. As Jesus gave His life for us, so we must learn to offer our time and resources for the sake of God’s Kingdom and the good of others. What are you prepared to sacrifice? Something to think about!