True followers of Christ make sacrifices.
Before Christ came, true followers of Christ, or at the time the Israelites, sacrificed herds, riches, animals, to come unto the Lord Jehovah. They showed God that they loved Him more than these menial possessions, that they cared more for his eternal love, than that which will pass with the earth.
When Christ came, the Law of Moses was fulfilled, and the Lamb of God became our cleansing sacrifice. But, what does that mean, are we simply done? We don't need to make any sacrifice ourselves, since we are cleansed by his blood. Right? ...Not exactly.
Did obeying the Law of Sacrifice, in the Law of Moses justify man? Was that it? In Hebrews Chapter 11 verse 17 it says, "By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises, offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, that in Isaac shall thy seed be called..." Abraham was faithful in the Law. He lived according to the Law, and he was blessed in his old age to have a son. But, the Lord asked him to sacrifice... He commanded Abraham to give up his most prized blessing, his son. Abraham had faith in the Lord, and was willing to give it all up.
I have been given so much. I have a wonderful family, great friends, I have an apartment, a car, food, water, some really cool ties... I have it all! But if the Lord needed to take them away from me? Would I be willing? Would I sacrifice these things for my God?
Let us take a step down from Abraham, to our not-so-hypothetical laws or commandments. The Lord has asked us to make sacrifices. Are we willing to give these things up? Are we willing to give up pornography and premarital sex? How about our coffee, tea, tobacco and alcohol? 10 percent of our income? Our Sundays? 15 minutes a day to read the scriptures? Fasting 2 meals a month? A Monday evening for the family? 2 minutes before bed for prayer?
If you say you can't give these things up yet, I have been where you are at. If you're perfect at the things I said above, good job! Keep pushing! There is a King in the Book of Mormon, he is not living the most righteous way. A missionary called of God, came and showed unto the king a better way to live, and this was that great king's prayer unto God "O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day." Alma 22:18
Would you give away all your sins to know your Heavenly Father, even just a bit more? I challenge you to pick one thing that takes you away from the Spirit, (whether by omition or commission) and sacrifice it unto the Lord. "Choose ye this day whom ye will serve!" Joshua 24:15
For additional study I reccommend Mosiah 2:19-26.
2 comments:
Awesome post. Thanks, Elder!
Sometimes I like to sit and ponder over what I have given up or would give up for the Lord. That's certainly an incredible way to assess where you are in the path that leads to eternal life. Thank you for the reminder to continue that practice. I was once sharing online with someone about how God asks us to sacrifice to build our faith. He responded that no one ever does that so there's no reason for him to. I informed him that it's not my computer I'm chatting with him on, and went on to explain about how and why I am serving a mission. He was really humbled by that. That's certainly a reason that we have to consecrate ourselves to be able to teach the gospel.
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