Sacrifice. One Word, Three Things...

A couple of nights ago, the text for our family devotion time was from Romans, chapter 12. It is one of my favourite passages in the Bible. In fact, verses 1 and 2 are the very verses that I gave to my boy as he entered the waters of baptism earlier this year.

This chapter outlines for us, Christ-followers, what it means to be a living sacrifice, to live a life that's holy and pleasing to God — because living as such is our true and proper worship.

I love how The Message words this chapter. Friends, please allow me to share with you three things, among many things from this chapter, about what it means for a Christ-follower to be a living sacrifice.

First thing...

Living then, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.

Friends, this is absolutely true! In our family's journey into child sponsorship with Compassion, we have truly experienced, each step along the way, blessings being multiplied a thousand fold over and over.

We have learned that in being a living sacrifice, one absolutely can not out-give God; one's good is nothing compared to God's goodness; one's outpouring of love is nothing compared to God's relentless love!

He blesses. He brings good. He loves. One thousand fold back.   

My girl, with our Compassion LDP student Rechelle, in Cebu City (Philippines).

Second thing...

... if you’re called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond.

Ah, yes! Being a living sacrifice involves having eagle eyes and quick hands and feet that are always ready for action. :)

There are dire needs all around us. Many are pressing, most are immediate. For people living in extreme poverty, their dire need is a daily reality. For the majority of us, first-world-citizens, it's not even something that we can fully grasp, understand or get our heads around...

Sponsoring a child with Compassion provides an answer and a solution to that dire need now! Today!

Friends, would you use your eagles eyes and spot that one child whose dire need you can help to alleviate today? Would you provide a quick response to this child whose need is so great it hinders them from living life to the full?

Our family with our Compassion child, Florianlyn and her family (and her social worker)
inside her house on the island of Masbate (Philippines).

Third thing...

Love from the center of who you are... Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.

Evil persists. Evil is rampant. Evil is everywhere.

Extreme poverty is an ugly evil. Extreme poverty robs people of basic needs such as food, shelter and clothing. Extreme poverty robs people of basic resources such as healthcare, education and job opportunities. And the list can go on and on and on... 

But it doesn't have to... because when we, as Christ-followers, live as a living sacrifice, and love from the center of who we are, extreme poverty can be alleviated. 

Lives can be bettered. Evil can be overcome!

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Friends, there are countless children today...
Trapped in the world of extreme poverty, with no hope for a brighter tomorrow. They desperately need to know...

... that there are Christ-followers who are willing to live simply and give generously.

... that there are fellow brothers-and-sisters-in-Christ who are keeping their eyes open and are willing to respond quickly.

... that there are members of this global community of God's people who are willing to fight evil by loving from the center of who they are.

My kids and Florianlyn. Hanging out on the beach on the island of Masbate (Philippines).

You can be that person today! By being a living sacrifice... living a life that's holy and pleasing to God  — offering up to Him your true and proper worship.

Sponsor a child with Compassion...

A child is waiting to call YOU friend this very day. A child is waiting for YOU to be a living sacrifice. A child is waiting for YOU to help release them from poverty, in Jesus name.

Canadian resident? Please click here. 

All others, please click here.

Compassion is a command, an act of worship, a song of thanks to Him.

Do justice. Love mercy. Walk humbly with God!