IS SACRIFICE DELETED?
Memorise: “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight” (1 John 3:22)
Read: 1 John 3:20-24
Everyone has something with which to turn around his or her fortune. Until you engage your bottle of oil or last meal, you may remain in your present state. Today, zeal is fast ebbing in the church of God. Everybody wants to be paid in monetary terms for services rendered to God.
The organist and instrumentalists want to be paid. The choir wants to be paid for singing. I heard that some ushers want payment for the time spent in serving God. This desire for financial reward is the undoing of many today. It is like the words ‘sacrifice’ and ‘selfless service’ have been deleted from the dictionary of modern Christianity. This is a far departure from our experience in years gone by.
While preparations were being made towards FESTAC, it grieved my heart that the streets of Lagos were to be closed for people to gather and dance before idols. Angry in my spirit, I decided we too would gather and dance before the King of kings. That was how the first Redeemer’s Congress was born. I went to WAEC and collected the addresses of schools including teacher training colleges.
I printed invitation cards to be sent to schools, school psychologists and others, inviting them to come and dance for Jesus. This was in 1976. After the printing, I realized I had nothing left to purchase the stamps with which the invitations could be sent. I sold my car and used the proceeds to purchase stamps. Meanwhile, I had promised them free food for the period. How can a man who had no money for stamp be able to feed the crowd? I left that in God’s hands and He took it up.
God raised helpers in the nick of time. I shared the vision with a man and he said he had 4,000 pounds (worth N4000 then) which he had saved to buy a car. But since I sold mine, he released his for food. Another helper -Chief Ogedengbe in Ilesa who was saving to buy a Merchedez Benz car also brought his money for food. How committed have you been to God?
How loyal, loving and dedicated have you been to Him? If you love the Lord, you will go beyond what you can make of Him or of your relationship with Him to what He can make of you or of His relationship with you. What have you lost, sacrificed or given up out of your love for Him?
If you cannot count anything truly sacrificial that has gone from you to His Kingdom, it shows you do not truly love Him. What is the tone of your daily prayer? Is it Father, give me this, give me that? Or Father, I give you this, you can even take that? Your prayer betrays your love!
Sacrificial service, giving and commitment are hallmarks of genuine love for God. Do you have them?
Source: E-Open Heavens, RCCG
