Love In Action Always Costs Something
Jesus invites us to walk alongside Him to spark a movement of disciple-makers with too many generations to count in the city of Las Vegas and beyond. To step into this invitation, we have to take a deeper look at what it means to say yes, and there's no one better than the life of Paul.
He went from persecuting Christians to learning what it means to serve Jesus and His Church. Paul experiences the power of transformation when walking alongside Jesus. Paul cultivates a trust with God and His people like no other, making space for the unknown to be the soil that cultivates freedom and Joy in Jesus' direction.
He experiences the relational, mutual, and spiritual realities of generosity. It would be challenging to examine Paul's life without recognizing another key marker of a disciple-maker: sacrifice.
In his letter to the church in Philippi, from which he is writing while in prison, he expresses his encouragement to the believers there and his gratitude for their partnership with him. In Philippians 2:17, he states, "But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy."
Paul is very particular with this metaphor of pouring out a liquid offering to God. The original Greek word used there is "Spendomai", which the people of the time would have been very familiar with.
The idea of pouring out a liquid as an offering to a god was prevalent, specifically with the false gods and emperors. But the liquid offering would often accompany the primary offering. We saw an example of this in Numbers 15:5: "For each lamb offered as a burnt offering or a special sacrifice, you must also present one quart of wine as a liquid offering."
This liquid offering would be a symbolic representation of the sacrifice that accompanies the blessing. Paul is saying he doesn't pour out his life to the emperor Caesar or to a false god. Still, his offering is an accessory to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
Paul helps us see that this sacrifice he is explaining is love in action. But love in action is always costly. Paul is expressing that his own life would be the sacrifice if it were for the sake of pursuing the transformation that comes with Jesus.
Paul also shares that sacrifice builds legacy. From sending a letter to the church in Philippi to reading the same letter 2,000 years later, the story of his sacrifice in the direction of Jesus impacts the lives of people beyond what he would ever see or could even imagine.
Paul also shares that sacrifice is dying to self. Galatians 2:20 reminds us that "My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
DIVE DEEPER
Jesus invites every single one of us to take a step in His direction. Take time to answer these questions this week: Where is Jesus inviting you to sacrifice for Him and the people He loves? What might God be inviting you to give up so that you can give to?
Canyon Ridge is embarking on a two-year transformative journey this fall called Going Together. You’re invited to be a part of it! Find out more by watching this video.