Gospel Principles
Unit 7: Perfecting Our Lives
Chapter 26: Sacrifice
Concept 4: We Must Be Willing to Sacrifice Everything We Have to the Lord
"The Apostle Paul wrote that we should become living sacrifices, holy and acceptable unto God (Romans 12:1 "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").
If we are to be a living sacrifice, we must, if asked, be willing to give everything we have for the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints.
A rich young ruler asked the Savior, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life? "Jesus answered, thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. "And the rich man said, "All these have I kept from my youth. "When Jesus heard this, he said, "yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. "When the young man heard this, he was very sorrowful. He was very rich and had his heart set on his riches. (see Luke 18:18-23.)
The young ruler was a good man. But when he was put to the test, he was not willing to sacrifice his worldly possessions. On the other hand, the Lord's disciples Peter and Andrew were willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of the kingdom of god. When Jesus said unto them, "Follow me,... they straightway left their nets, and followed him" (Matthew 4:19-20).
Like the disciples, we can offer our daily activities as a sacrifice to the Lord. We can say, 'thy will be done. "Abraham did this. He lived on earth before Christ, in the days when blood sacrifices and burnt offerings were required. As a test of Abraham's faith, the Lord commanded him to offer up his son Isaac as a sacrifice. Isaac was the only son of Abraham and Sarah. To offer him as a sacrifice was extremely painful for Abraham.
Nevertheless, he and Isaac made the long journey to Mount Moriah, where the sacrifice was to be made. They traveled for three days. Imagine Abraham's thoughts and his heartache. His son was to be sacrificed to the Lord. When they reached Mount Moriah, Isaac carried the wood and Abraham carried the fire and the knife to the place where they were to build the alter. Isaac said, "My father... behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? "Abraham answered, "My son, God will provide himself a lamb. "Then Abraham built an alter and arranged the wood on it. He bound Isaac and laid him upon the wood. He then took the knife to kill Isaac. At that moment an angel of the Lord'stopped him, saying, "Abraham... Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me." (see Genesis 22:1-14).
Abraham must have been overcome with joy when he was no longer required to sacrifice his son. But he loved the Lord "So much that he was willing to do anything the Lord asked.
Discussion
What would you have done if you were in the situation of the rich young ruler or Abraham?"