There is no sacrifice in true sacrifice. That paradoxical statement might make us scratch our heads a bit. However, David Livingstone, who was a bit of a paradox himself, helps us understand the truth of the opening statement.
At the age of 15, Livingstone left the Church of Scotland over the issue of Calvinism and predestinarianism. He instead went to a church that taught that all could be saved freely by the grace of God. Livingstone, though, didn’t give his heart to the Lord until the age of 20. In his biography compiled by Henry Pickering, it says, “God revealed to him his error, and he renounced all hope in himself; and as a bankrupt, beggared sinner he trusted in the power and willingness of Christ to save. To use again his own words: “I saw the duty and inestimable privilege immediately to accept salvation by Christ.””1
Livingstone also made another decision. “Humbly believing that through sovereign mercy and grace I have been enabled so to do, and having felt in some measure its effects on my still depraved and deceitful heart, it is my desire to show my attachment to the cause of Him who died for me by henceforth devoting my life to His service.”2
Livingstone’s passions revolved around exploration, ending slave trade, and spreading the Gospel of Jesus. Sometimes, he could do all three at once and at other times, one might be the springboard for the others. “On the 8th December, 1840, he took ship for South Africa, and landed at Algoa Bay, proceeded inland to Kuruman, then the most northerly mission station in South Africa. It was not long ere he pushed on into the interior, and wrote: “I had more than ordinary pleasure in telling these Bakaas of the precious Blood that cleanseth from all sin. I bless God that He has conferred on one so worthless the distinguished privilege and honour of being the first messenger of mercy that ever trod these regions.”3
On December 4, 1857, Livingstone had returned to England and was privileged to address the student body at Cambridge. To the student’s, Livingstone said, “For my own part, I have never ceased to rejoice that God has appointed me to such an office. People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa. . . . Is that a sacrifice which brings its own blest reward in healthful activity, the consciousness of doing good, peace of mind, and a bright hope of a glorious destiny hereafter? Away with the word in such a view, and with such a thought! It is emphatically no sacrifice. Say rather it is a privilege. Anxiety, sickness, suffering, or danger, now and then, with a foregoing of the common conveniences and charities of this life, may make us pause, and cause the spirit to waver, and the soul to sink; but let this only be for a moment. All these are nothing when compared with the glory which shall be revealed in and for us. I never made a sacrifice.”4
Here’s the paradox. Romans 12:1 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” And we are told in 1 Peter 2:5, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”
Yet, Paul said in Philippians 3:7-8, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. (8) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.”
Though sacrificed, Paul didn’t see it as a sacrifice. Instead, he saw it as his only option. And to abandon everything for the Lord is the best investment we will ever make. Jesus and Peter got into this discussion in Mark 10:28-30. “Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. (29) And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, (30) But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.”
So, did we really make a sacrifice when we gave up the things we couldn’t keep to embrace the things we couldn’t lose? That’ll give you something to stew on today!
1https://www.wholesomewords.org/missions/bliving12.html
2Ibid.
3Ibid.
4https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/i-never-made-a-sacrifice
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