Sometimes we need to let go.

Sometimes we have to give up a Saturday evening to serve students at youth group, or get to bed at a decent time so we can volunteer on Sunday morning? Sometimes we might need to give up recreational sports or binge-watching Netflicks to invite guests into our home, help someone move, or serve at the local food bank.

Let’s be honest though; these aren’t big sacrifices, are they? What would happen if, to serve Christ effectively, He called us to give up something really meaningful to us? Would we be willing? Let’s take a look at James 2 and a couple of examples to consider.

“But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?” (James 2:18-21)

“You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend.’ You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” (2:22-26)

Faith without deeds is dead.

This passage has been used to motivate many a Believer into filling their role of service in the Body of Christ. This is a good thing. However, for the first time, I noticed that the two examples given in this passage as deeds weren’t really the Christian-service options that are ever-popular in our churches today.

After all, Abraham didn’t sacrifice his morning of sleeping in to make coffee in the hospitality room of the church. And Rahab the prostitute, would she be welcomed to make coffee in our churches?

I would propose to you that both of these examples of deeds were people who did not give anything but gave up something. They were called to sacrifice, or at least be willing to.

1. Abraham

Abraham had to give up his son Isaak to serve God. And he was definitely about to do it until God stopped him. There was no large crowd at the altar to see Abraham’s commitment level. No opportunity to boast in his service to the Lord.

[bctt tweet=”Abraham had to give up his son Isaak to serve God. And he was definitely about to do it until God stopped him. There was no large crowd at the altar to see Abraham’s commitment level. No opportunity to boast in his service.” username=”PastorJNorton”]

Nevertheless, Abraham’s heart was set on following the Lord’s command. He didn’t know the outcome at the time. He was prepared to live with the outcome of sacrificing his son. This would have been a heavy toll to pay and a heavy burden to carry for the rest of his life.

2. Rehab

Rahab was in the business of satisfying the lustful desires of men. Her career was built around sinful and destructive behaviour. And yet, she put her life on the line in order to help the spies, and protect God’s people.

[bctt tweet=”Rahab was in the business of satisfying the lustful desires of men. Her career was built around sinful and destructive behaviour. And yet, she put her life on the line in order to help the spies, and protect God’s people.” username=”PastorJNorton”]

Her story has been re-told time after time in the Church, but what about at that time, within her context and culture? How would she have felt about the word getting out? It would have likely led to her death. She didn’t know for sure that it would work out. She sacrificed a lot that day!

The Bottom Line:

Both of these examples of service found in James were potential sacrifices of life; far more than God typically asks of us in our modern Western context. Think about it for a moment.

• How does their potential sacrifice to follow God measure up when compared to losing a bit of sleep to make coffee on Sunday morning?
• How does their sacrifice measure up to missing some Netflicks on Saturday night to lead games for youth group?

All of a sudden these seemingly difficult commitments of service aren’t the sacrificial deeds of faith we may make them out to be. In reality, they are quite simple acts of service that can have a lasting impact if we would only embrace them wholeheartedly.

Why? Because it’s so worth it!

You may already know this, or have heard this from others; serving Christ brings about a closeness to Him that doesn’t come from being the Sunday spectator. Serving will bring a fulfilment into your spiritual life that sleeping in and watching Netflicks will never give you!

[bctt tweet=”Serving Christ brings about a closeness to Him that doesn’t come from being the Sunday spectator. Serving will bring a fulfilment into your spiritual life that sleeping in and watching Netflicks will never give you.” username=”PastorJNorton”]

I don’t know what God is calling you to give up at this moment, but I’d encourage you to take it seriously. There is likely a significant opportunity on the horizon. It’s time to check your priorities because it might be time for a little sacrifice.

Join the Conversation, Leave Your Thoughts

• What would be the most difficult thing to give up or sacrifice?
• Would you be able to lay that down if Jesus asked?
• What act of service have you been holding off on and why?
• How will you embrace that act of service this week?