Service and Sacrifice
In 1960 John F. Kennedy (JFK) was elected as The 35th President of the United States. He served as President from 1961 to 1963. President Kennedy assumed office on January 20, 1961. In his inaugural address he spoke these well known words “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country”. His address inspired others to see the importance of civic action and public service. The themes of service and sacrifice were sprinkled throughout.
These are noble ideals and much needed in our country still today. Unfortunately, our country has lost its way in many areas. In many ways society has changed, man’s laws have changed, man’s moral values have changed since that inaugural address, but God never changes.
Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not;…
January 22, 1973 Roe v. Wade was a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court which ruled that the Constitution of the United States generally protected a right to have an abortion.
June 24, 2022 The U.S. Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade has ended the federal right to an abortion and given states the authority to set their own abortion policies/laws.
Justice Clarence Thomas, has written that Roe was “grievously wrong for many reasons, but most fundamental is that its core holding-that the Constitution protects a woman’s right to abort her unborn child – finds no support in the text of the Fourteenth Amendment”.
Between these two ruling over 63 million babies were aborted! 63 million lives were senselessly cut short.
God knows and loves every one of these aborted babies. Only God knows what could have been and what will be. Only God knows the price we individually, as a nation, and the world as a whole; will pay for our total disregard for human life. Life that He created!
Psalms 139:13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
Psalms 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
Psalms 139:15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Psalms 139:16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, whichin continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
Since society has changed, man’s laws have changed, man’s moral values have changed, but God never changes; Christians should focus our service and sacrifice on the One who changes not.
Romans 12:1 I beseech (beg) you therefore, brethren (Christians), by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice (willing, voluntarily), holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service (the least you can do considering what Christ has done for you).
Believers are to present ourselves to the service of God and his glory. Faithfully using the gifts he has given us, offering up ourselves as a living sacrifice unto God. A living, holy, reasonable sacrifice; otherwise it will find no acceptance with God.
In Christ-likeness we represent Christ to this lost and dying world. Our lives will show we are making a willing sacrifice so that Christ may shine forth from within us. For our sacrifice to be acceptable, something must die! We must put to death our pride, our selfishness, our motives of personal advancement. We must die to self and live for Christ daily.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:13-17 we “are the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world”. Are we being the “salt” and “light” Jesus wants us to be?
Service and Sacrifice means we need to stay engage in the abortion battle. We need to pray, give financially and of ourselves, engage one on one in our culture, support those who serve in our Women’s and Pregnancy Resource Centers, hold our elected representatives accountable and much, much more!
To focus our service and sacrifice on the One who changes not we must first come to God by faith.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and thathe is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
I believe in the sacrificial death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for me! It’s a personal decision I had to make for myself. It’s a personal decision you have to make for yourself!
First, I had to admit I was a sinner. That I have done wrong!
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 6:23 For the wages (penalty, payment for) of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
How about you, will you admit you are a sinner; have you done wrong?
Secondly, I had to believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and that he rose again as the payment for my sins.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth (demonstrated) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Do you believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and that he rose again as the payment for your sins?
Thirdly, I had to confess and choose Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour and let him take charge of my life.
Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Romans 10:10 For with the heart (mind, will, emotion) man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Have you confessed and chosen Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour? Have you let Him take charge of your life?
Obviously, God doesn’t need us; we need Him. There is nothing we can do in and of ourselves apart from Him that will bring glory and honor to Him. We need to submit and yield to Him and allow Him to work in, through and for us.
JFK’s service and ultimate sacrifice ended on November 22, 1963 when he was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. None of us know when this life will end. Now is the time for service and sacrifice to the One who changes not.
Submitted by Edwin Walter
Member of the Board, BFLW
Deacon and RU recovery Director
First Baptist Church, New Lisbon, WI