Have You Noticed How Much You Have Sacrificed to the Lord?

 December 5, 2024

Thursday

Matthew 19:27 (NASB 2020) ²⁷ Then Peter responded and said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?”

If we have served the Lord we wouldn't notice what we have sacrificed to do so. We would be so amazed to be in His presence that nothing we do will seem like a sacrifice. There are rewards that go beyond our imaginations in heaven but that is merely the result of serving. It is not the glory of His presence.

When people are in love they hardly notice the sacrifices that are being made for the ones they love. Our response to the Lord is one of love. Noticing the sacrifices turns the attention back on us. We notice our sacrifices and want to know what is in it for us. We have forgotten the privilege of having someone who loves us deeply. 

When people are in love, they lose track of time. They only notice what they are doing at that very moment in the presence of the one they love. It doesn't matter how much sleep or expense or sacrifice or work that needs to be done to please the one they love. 

It is natural to think that you have served the Lord much more than others and there should be some payday coming soon. In fact, it is natural to think that you are the only one truly serving the Lord. Elijah would think that. Peter is thinking something like that. He is thinking that this small band of disciples are the best of the best when it comes to serving Jesus. 

When the married couple continue to evaluate what they should receive according to what they have done for each other, the relationship takes a turn from loving the other person without measure to loving with measure. This is true in our relationship with the Lord. We have essentially lost the love we had for the Lord when we first came to know Him. We are seeking the benefits and thinking we have paid way too much for what we are getting.

This is the moment we are vulnerable to leaving the Lord even if it doesn't look like it to others. Sure, we may continue in church but we back off from having the fervency that we once had. Yes, we are present but our hearts are not all His anymore.

Is it time to sell out again? Is it time to admit that the love you once had is not the love that you have now for the Lord? Is it time to cry out to the Lord asking Him to restore what you once had?

Just one more question: Have you been noticing how much you have sacrificed for Him?