Living as Sacrifices
September 5
For to me, to live is Christ...
Philippians 1:21
“I can’t do this anymore!” Jack all but hollered. “I don’t know what God wants from us? I have no idea what step to take next that would bring resolution to our problems!”
Jack’s frustration stemmed from the ongoing trials he and his wife, Tanna, had been experiencing over the past four years. The unrest in the home, brought on by persistent physical and constant financial struggles, was at a fevered pitch. They rarely went a day without arguing over things that would normally be overlooked as insignificant. And the periods between these arguments was filled with deafening silence.
When more than a minute passed without her response he silently blamed her…It would be nice if you’d engage!
Locked in his own reasoning-challenged battle, Jack couldn’t know that Tanna’s mind was filled with her own fear-driven thoughts. So, he began building his own argument for his wife’s lack of response…Right, you think this is all ‘MY’ fault! Which wasn’t true, but by this time Satan had planted seeds of guilt and shame over his inability to earn a living. He uttered his last statement aloud, “I’m so tired right now I’d rather be a dead martyr than a living sacrifice.”
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Sound familiar? Many Christians share Jack’s sentiment, which begs the question: Why does a loving God allow His children to experience this kind of turmoil when He has the power to do otherwise?
Many New Testament scriptures tell us we will suffer, Jesus Himself said it. But, like Jack, we desire an answer that will at least offer comfort in the midst of the conflict.
Paul writes in verse fourteen, “Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.”
The list of reasons why God allows us to work through our trials is long. But in many cases He knows someone else is watching for our reaction to our circumstances. He believes we have the strength to show the world what a living sacrifice looks like. What we show them is how we choose to respond to life’s trials.
Prayer
“Lord, sometimes I feel it’d be easier dying for You than living through these trying times. Give me Your strength to walk in integrity, as a living sacrifice in Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
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