Only Sacrifice for the Higher
Scriptures: Matthew 7, 1 Peter 4, Acts 20, Malachi 1, Luke 14, Malachi 3
Reflection:
Understand where you are at in God.
That question alone separates the committed from the casual. Matthew 7 reminds us that faith without fruit is lifeless. If you are not producing anything for God, then you are worthy of the destruction of fire. It’s not enough to say you believe; your belief must produce something — something visible, consistent, and eternal.
Ask yourself:
Where is your life being productive in God?
Are your words, habits, and priorities bearing fruit for His Kingdom, or are they feeding only yourself?
Serving God Is Not Optional
In 1 Peter 4, the message is clear: Serving God is not optional. Yet many believers treat obedience as a suggestion and service as an accessory. The question must be asked — Do you think the things you do for God are optional?
Are you more committed to God than you are to anything else?
Your relationship with Him should not compete with your calendar, your comfort, or your career.
If you consider your service to the Lord optional, then your understanding of sacrifice is incomplete. True sacrifice requires doing what’s necessary even when it’s not convenient — giving when you’re tired, showing up when it’s uncomfortable, and obeying when no one is watching.
Live for Christ Every Day
Acts 20 reminds us that living for Christ is not something that happens only when you come to church.
It’s a lifestyle, not a location.
If your praise, patience, or prayer only show up in the pews, then you’ve reduced God to a part-time presence. Malachi 1 challenges that mindset: Give God more than just two days out of your week.
God deserves a seven-day sacrifice — not weekend worship.
The Higher Standard
Luke 14 and Malachi 3 together remind us that our thoughts about God must expand beyond ourselves. If thinking about God doesn’t also cause you to think about other people, then you need to reevaluate.
Christian maturity is not just about Bible memorization or quoting scripture; it’s about transformation.
It’s about moving from “what I want” to “what God requires.”
It’s about living by the motto: Only Sacrifice for the Higher.
When your choices reflect God’s will, your life begins to operate at a higher frequency — one where obedience is your instinct, and sacrifice is your standard.
Challenge:
Evaluate your productivity in God — where are you bearing fruit?
Stop treating obedience and service as optional.
Worship God daily, not just on Sundays.
Let your thoughts about God lead to compassion for others.
Live with a sacrificial mindset — give your best to the Higher.