Put Your Life on the Altar

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” -Matthew 13:44

Two days ago, we talked about how we should produce good fruit by building people up. Yesterday, we talked about how we should be sowers of God’s Word in people’s lives. Both of these things are signs of knowing Jesus. If you love Jesus, you’ll do those things. If you don’t do those things, you probably don’t love Jesus.

Here’s another sign of knowing and loving Jesus: self-sacrifice. The grace of Jesus and the incomparable joys of being in relationship with him are so great that they outshine any other thing we could possibly want. That’s what Jesus is talking about in Matthew 13:44. God is so worthy of all of our praise that we should be willing to give up everything we have for him.

Are you willing to give up your job? Your boyfriend/girlfriend? Your PlayStation? What about your happiness? Jesus gave all of himself for our sake. When we enter into relationship with him and changes us to be more like himself, our life will be marked by conscious, consistent self- sacrifice and willingness to give up anything should God just say the word.

Do you live your life for yourself, or do you live it for God and others? This is a mark of a true believer. I encourage you to ask yourself the tough questions. Philippians 2:12 says to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Don’t ignore it. Work it out. I guarantee that it will lead to hope, life, and joy.