LOVE IS SACRIFICIAL Thursday 16 August 2012

Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye

Memorise: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Read: Genesis 29:18-28

When you are genuinely in love, making sacrifices for the one you love will be a thing of pleasure and not a burden. Jacob was in love with Rachel and asked her father what he must do to marry her. He told him to serve for seven years and he willingly did so. Because of his love, seven years were like seven days to him. When he was deceived, yet he agreed to serve another seven years for his heartthrob (Genesis 29:18-28). No price is too much to pay for the one you love. If you truly love your wife, you will pay the price of faithfulness in the midst of pressure to be unfaithful to her in your workplace or even in the ministry. Some husbands are yet to demonstrate their love for their wives by sacrificially giving to her like God gave us His one out of one (John 3:16). If your relationship with your wife is all about convenience- you do things for her only when it is convenient, but nothing for her when sacrifice is required, then you owe your wife big time. Wives of such husbands should demand of their husbands the debt of sacrifice.

Sacrifice helps to guage your love for God. We can say God loves us exceedingly because He was prepared to part with His only begotten Son on the cross of Calvary. What have you given in return to Him? If you say you love Him, you will sacrifice for Him. You will be ready like Paul to spend and be spent for Him. Some ministers of God cannot take up certain kingdom assignments because they fear that they will be totally exhausted. This shows they still want to reserve some energy or resources to themselves. What a mistake! It is when you are spent that you will need to be replenished. As long as you retain your strength or resources there will be no vacancy for God to fill. Stop holding back! Empty yourself into God and His Kingdom. There is no better place of fulfillment or reward than this. Do it, not necessarily for the returns, although you cannot avoid it, but for love. Can you serve the Lord for 14 years without pay? Can you serve the Lord in the rural areas when you have been used to the comfort of life? Can you serve under an uneducated person when you are Master’s or Ph.D. holder? Where is sacrifice in your love for the Lord?

ACTION POINT:

There is a level of sacrifice God expects from us at every phase of our lives. Ask God for grace to make that sacrifice.

 

Bible in one year: 2 Kings 7-10