Devotion #20

CENTRAL TRUTH: Embracing faith requires a humble heart willing to sacrifice everything for Christ.

BIBLE PASSAGE: 2 Samuel 24:24

In our passage today, we see both Araunah and King David demonstrating generous hearts and a proper understanding of sacrifice. Araunah offers his threshing floor, oxen, and ox yokes to be used for a sacrifice. King David, though, insists on paying full price, rightly knowing that his offering to God should involve sacrifice.

We know that our salvation is a gift from God that cannot be bought or earned; however, fully embracing the life God has for us requires sacrifice. First, we must sacrifice our pride and accept the free gift of salvation. Then we must sacrifice our attachment to possessions and our control over our lives and embrace the sanctification God offers. As we step out in these acts of faith, God builds our faith. As He builds our faith and our relationship with Him grows, He asks for larger sacrifices, allowing us more opportunity to grow.

Notice that King David could have achieved his nominal goal of sacrificing at Araunah’s threshing floor as God commanded at no expense to himself. It is tempting in today’s society to minimize our sacrifice in following God, but King David shows the better way, illustrating why he was called “a man after [God’s] own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14 NIV).

Take a few minutes to read today’s passage and ask God to show you how to apply this to your life.

If you have not done so yet, please open your Journey Guide to the corresponding devotion in the Reading Journal section. Journal your thoughts in response to the questions found there, spend some time in prayer, and take a couple of minutes to review this week's Memory Verse.

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Today's Author

Mark Johnson

My name is Mark Johnson. Stephanie and I will celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary next summer. We have three children: Krista (15), Hannah (13) and Luke (10). We have been attending New Covenant for 15 years, and we praise God for the great source of growth the church has been in our family’s life. I currently serve on the elder board and stewardship committee, and Stephanie and I are marriage mentors for couples whose marriages are at risk.

Outside of church, I work for Rockwell Collins in Program Management in the Commercial Systems division. A little-known fact about me is that I have seven siblings: five brothers and two sisters. Yes, when I was growing up, I lived in a loud and active home!

Comments

[Pat Rieck]

Mark,
Great words on the 'exchanged life' . .First, we must sacrifice our pride and accept the free gift of salvation. Then we must sacrifice our attachment to possessions and our control over our lives and embrace the sanctification God offers.

The are not 'only words' but words that need to be acted upon daily. Thanks for the reminder!

[Tye Male]

Nice devo Mark. I really appreciate the way you put this in the proper context.

Sacrifice for each of us will look very different. It's sort of a "widow's mite" thing. One person's sacrifice might be another's luxury.

It is so important that as we search our hearts for what God wants us to do as individuals that we not ever think that our sacrifice is ever any greater or less than another's. The important thing is to do what God wants us to do.

[Richard Kramer]

Consequences…
What Mark and Pat and Tye expressed I agree with wholeheartedly. Here is an additional thought: There are not only consequences for every good or evil activity but also for every willful inactivity. If David had NOT bought the threshing floor, had NOT built the altar, had NOT brought sacrifices, had NOT prayed over the plague of his people, would God have stopped the plague?
If it is the goal of NCBC to build a facility to accommodate many future seekers and we do NOT buy the land, do NOT build the structure, do NOT sacrifice financially and do NOT pray over the potential harvest of believers, will God bless us with exponential growth or will He let us just . . . stagnate?
Nehemiah inspired his people to endure great sacrifices to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. I see a fascinating parallel with our effort here when it comes to sacrificing.

[Dave Rubsam]

Thanks again, Mark. I'm slow in posting a response, but I do appreciate the thoughts. As a "David" I am challenged to live up to my namesake in Scripture: would that I could truly be "a man after God's own heart"! That means seeking after His heart, and striving to model that heart to others--no small task. May we all learn what that means a little more each day. Thanks for your help!