That little cutie was the first calf born of our calving season. We generally prefer fall calving. Cows and calves grow well and rapidly on hay and winter rye over the winter and into early spring around our part of the world. So that little fella was the 1st calf of the year. If we were still living under the Old Testament laws, we would have needed to bring our “1st” as an offering, a sacrifice.
I have been thinking about the sacrifice a lot lately. We, even as Christians, don’t think about the sacrifice very much. Yep, it was required by Old Testament law and we don’t live under that anymore, so who cares right?
Oh no….it’s still so important. Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice. He gave His life on the cross, for us, as a once and for all sacrifice. We no longer have to take our 1st born animal or first picked whatever as an offering to the temple. We now follow those “first” principles in other ways, like tithing 10% FIRST from our income.
But that cute little calf of ours is no longer required as a blood sacrifice for my sins. Here is where we have forgotten about the sacrifice…. Yes, Jesus died and He became the sacrifice and now we think we don’t have to even think about the sacrifice again. It’s done, right?
WRONG! Where God has been speaking to me so clearly lately is about our forgotten need for the sacrifice. Do you need a sacrifice? I sure do!
At some point in modern Christianity, the CHURCH has lost sight of the need for the sacrifice and then we have failed to pass that along to those who are lost around us. “All have sinned and come short.” If ALL have sinned, ALL need a sacrifice. Jesus was that spotless lamb, but we have failed, I think, to recognize our need for it.
We say, yes you need salvation; accept the free gift….but why? Because without that sacrifice, there is no salvation. We have to FIRST acknowledge the need for the sacrifice.
Why do you need a sacrifice? I could list all kinds of things….. Everyone want to list the “big” sins like adultery and addiction. But what about the “little” sins, the sins inside the CHURCH, like complacency, pride, fear, doubt, backbiting? GASP!
I don’t know about you, but I NEED a sacrifice. I need it daily. Paul said “crucify the flesh daily.” He didn’t mean go out and hang on a cross every day. No he meant build you an altar and make a sacrifice.
Today, that looks a lot different than it did in the Old Testament. I don’t have to go out and get that cute calf and slaughter and offer him anymore. No, I just have to “build an altar” in my heart, while kneeling by my bed or driving down the road and ask God to take me and wash me. Forgive me and accept me, faults and all. I just have to thank Him for the sacrifice of His Son and accept that it was the payment for my sins.
If you haven’t recognized the need for Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice in your life, I pray you will take that step today. No one is perfect. We’ve all made a mess. But Jesus is waiting. He is waiting for you to say, “Hey, I messed up. But I accept you as the sacrifice, the payment for all my failures. Thank you for that.”
This week, this Easter, and everyday, my prayer is that Jesus would be real in your life. I pray that today, you will see Him for who He is and in a way you have never seen Him before and that you would accept HIM as your sacrifice.
Good Friday is such a special day in which we are reminded just how great a sacrifice was made for us more than 2000 years ago!
Jesus said that there was no greater love than to give one’s life for a friend.
When I was a child, I couldn’t understand why it was called “Good” Friday when they nailed God’s Son to the cross. It was so sad to me that Jesus had to die for us. But then Easter came and everything was so beautiful and everyone was so happy and joyful . We were once again reminded that He had risen and saved us all. We need Good Friday and Easter in our hearts every day so we can reflect on the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made for all God’s children.