It is one of those concepts that can be talked about and discussed until there are no more words, but will never have its humbling effect upon the heart until we have to engage in it ourselves. Only at that time does it become ours. Only then do we own it because we have purchased it with an understanding burned into our being with the fire of experience. And it leaves a scar so hot, it continues to emit warmth after others have forgotten that a fire was there. After which no one can argue with your words about sacrifice, because you do not speak them. You live them.
"And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of." - Genesis 22:2
I found the quotation. =) What I told you previously was just his paraphrase, I think. Anyway, here it is:
ReplyDeleteJudas saw the sick, the lame, the blind, flock to Jesus from the towns and cities. He saw the dying laid at His feet. He witnessed the Saviour's mighty works in healing the sick, casting out devils, and raising the dead. He felt in his own person the evidence of Christ's power. He recognized the teaching of Christ as superior to all that he had ever heard. He loved the Great Teacher, and desired to be with Him. He felt a desire to be changed in character and life, and he hoped to experience this through connecting himself with Jesus. The Saviour did not repulse Judas. He gave him a place among the twelve. He trusted him to do the work of an evangelist. He endowed him with power to heal the sick and to cast out devils. But Judas did not come to the point of surrendering himself fully to Christ. He did not give up his worldly ambition or his love of money. While he accepted the position of a minister of Christ, he did not bring himself under the divine molding. He felt that he could retain his own judgment and opinions, and he cultivated a disposition to criticize and accuse. {DA 717}
Thank you for your prayers. I'll be doing the same.