The Cost of True Religion
Amazing Grace Ministry
"Neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing"
The verse I have taken for today's meditation
is from II Samuel ch24:24. When David committed sin by conducting a census, the
Bible says, the Lord punished him by sending a 3 days pestilence against Israel,
which killed 70,000 men. However, the Lord being gracious, decides to end the
pestilence before the said time. So God asks David to built an altar in a land
owned by a person called Araunah. As David was the King, Araunah offered the
land and everything needed for the sacrifice free of charge. But David refused
to accept it, and wanted to buy it from Araunah, and it was during this
circumstances that David said the above mentioned verse.
We have two great lessons to learn
from this incident. First, God hates sin, and the consequences of sin is
punishment, curse and ultimately death. Secondly, to serve or following God,
requires an active involvement on our part. There is a cost, an effort, a
sacrifice required from our side. Not a sacrifice of goats, oxen's, or doves,
but sacrifice of our worldly life. Anything that comes between you and God is a
idol, that needs to be broken down (sacrificed).
God
once asked Abraham to sacrifice
his beloved son Isaac. Isaac was so special to Abraham and Sarah,
because Sarah
was barren for 90 years and Isaac was the child of her and Abraham's
old age
(Abraham was 100 years old, when Isaac was born). The birth of Isaac
was the fulfillment of the promise which the Lord has given Abraham.
Never before has
God asked anyone to sacrifice a child as a burnt offering. Normally
cattle's
are offered as burnt offering, of which Abraham had plenty. But God
needed
Isaac, whom Abraham and Sarah loved most.
Was Abraham willing to pay the cost of following God? Yes, he was. There is no mention made in the Bible, about Abraham arguing or questioning God as to why such a grievous thing was required from him. Was Abraham afraid to speak to God? No. If you go back a few chapters, you will see Abraham, intervening with God to save the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. Now, his beloved son's life was at stake. But we see, Abraham silently and faithfully complying to it.
Now we all know that God was testing
Abraham's faith, through this trial. And we also know that Abraham passed the
test with flying colors, God didn't allow, Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, but
showed him a ram, which was sacrificed in Isaac's place. Abraham was ready to
sacrifice, thereby proving that he loved God more than anything else. The
consequences of Abraham's obedience, was abundant blessings. We can read about
it in Genesis chapter 22.
As
True Christians, we are all
required to adapt the same attitude of Abraham. Jesus said "If any man
will
come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow
me". There
are three things required by Jesus, the first is to deny ourselves. To
live a
God centered life. Second is to take up the cross. The cross depicts
hardships,
trials, sufferings, pain etc, and the third is to "follow Jesus". To
follow Jesus means, to do what Jesus has taught us to do. If we say we
are followers
of Christ, and don't do any of the things mentioned above, then how can
we call
ourselves CHRISTIANS.
If you think, living a balanced life
(i.e. indulging in the pleasures of the World, and at the same time attending
Church and practicing mere rituals of the religion), is acceptable to God. Then
hear what the Bible has to say. "No man can serve two masters: for either he
will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and
despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon".
Just as Abraham was blessed for his obedience, you also will be abundantly blessed for the sacrifices you make, in this world or in the world to come (New Jerusalem).
James ch1v12: Blessed is the man that endureth temptation, for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
2 Timothy ch4v8: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
My dearly beloved in Christ, remember, True Christian religion costs much. The world never loved a TRUE CHRISTIAN. It didn't love Jesus, neither can it love us, if we are following the footsteps of Jesus. If you find yourself living a easy, trouble free life, then I want you to stop and examine yourselves and make sure you are on the right track.
I pray for God, to help us faithfully examine our hearts and grant us the strength, wisdom and grace to sacrifice the things which is hindering our spiritual life.
God bless you,
Amazing Grace Ministry
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