ALL ABOUT SACRIFICE!

Genesis 22:9-129 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham builtan altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaacand laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reachedout his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the Angel ofthe Lord called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Here Iam," he replied. 12 "Do not lay a hand on the boy," He said. "Do notdo anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you havenot withheld from Me your son, your only son."

Imagine that there is a car company who will give a brand-new car tothe person whose name is drawn from a hat.

SURPRISE! Your name is picked. You are so excited, but when the daycomes for you to get acquainted with your new car . . . you areastounded to discover that the car lacks everything it needs to run!For instance, a drive train, a carburetor, an ignition system . . .

Suddenly your new "car" seems pretty useless. What is the point ofhaving a new car if you can't have the whole thing?

In the same way, Jesus has called us to give all of ourselves toHim, every part of our lives. How can we grow spiritually if we'restriving to do our best for God in some areas of our lives, while weare tampering with things of the world?

We may desperately want a relationship with Jesus because we want aGod who is there to comfort and protect us in all of life'scircumstances. But at the same time we may be unwilling to give upon temporal pleasures: popularity, sex, drugs, alcohol.

In the Old Testament, Abraham was willing to kill his own son Isaacin obedience to God (Genesis 22:10).

It's all about sacrifice. Does Jesus deserve only a part? Do we livefor Him only when it is convenient for us?

Let's lay everything at the feet of our Savior. If we give up theearthly things that we cling to, we will have the kind ofrelationship with Jesus we have been called to have, and we can thenbe used to the extent we were meant to be used.

Our Father made the ultimate sacrifice for us. What will wesacrifice for Him today? --Laura Palmer, Newfoundland, Canada Written by a fellow Soul Journey reader

DESTINATION POINTS

* Have I been giving God my ALL, or just a part?
* What part of mylife have I given over to God recently?
* Does my life representJesus to others? What are some things I need to get rid of?

LINKS:Standing Alone http://www.christianitytoday.com/cl/2000/005/6.52.html

Sealed Orders http://www.christianitytoday.com/moi/2003/003/may/29.29.html

bottom line: Give it up for Jesus!

soul journey