At Journey Life Church a few weeks ago I talked about Fluffy the sheep. Imagine being a 5 year old Jewish kid in the 1st Century and your parents got you a cute little lamb you named Fluffy. He’s your new best friend and you go everywhere together. One holiday, you and the family go to the temple and your parents tell you to bring Fluffy along! You’re so excited – you and your best friend on an adventure. You bring Fluffy to the temple and the priest asks you if you’ve been respectful all year to your parents – they shake their head “no.” He asks if you’ve told any lies, they shake their heads “yes.” And all of sudden there goes Fluffy to the altar – NOOOOOOO . . . . poor . . . . Fluffy.
“Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (Heb 9:22)
Thank God that we do not rely on Fluffy the sheep for a clean conscience anymore. Why? Because, “[Jesus] has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Heb. 9:26 NIV) The fact is, Fluffy the sheep was only good to clean a conscience until the next sin and for their next meal.
Here is the truth,
- Outside of Christ no sacrifice is meaningful.
- In Christ, all sacrifice is meaningful. Even when you and I lay down our lives and selfish desires for each other, we are infused with supernatural life and vitality through God’s Spirit. Because all sacrifice takes on significance when we are dedicating our lives and our sacrifice to Jesus. All sacrifice that is led by Jesus carries His greatness.
Think back right now on the things you have sacrificed in life – to be a student, a parent, a child, a friend, a Christian, to be the church – dedicate your life and your sacrifice to Jesus. He gets it, and He makes your sacrifice worth it, even right now.
jaredstepp 