Bible Verse: The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. Genesis 3:21 (NIV)
Scripture Reading: Genesis 3:1-24
Nearly every great story includes an element of sacrifice.
Whether it is a hero laying down his life, a single mom giving up everything for her kids, or the soldiers who risk everything for their country—there is something about sacrifice that moves us.
Men, in particular, seem to revel in sacrifice.
We revere those who give up much, especially those who do so for others. It may be someone’s literal life that is laid down, or it may be other things like time, money, or self, but it all points to the same truth:
Life requires sacrifice, and sacrifice is a noble thing to do.
This week, we will look at the nature of sacrifice in God’s Kingdom and explore various ways God calls us to be men of sacrifice, following Jesus’ example.
Sacrifice is a significant theme in Scripture, revolving around Calvary, but established well before. The Old Testament contains an elaborate system of sacrifices involved in Temple worship for Israel, where God’s people gave up animals, produce, and money as part of their devotion to the LORD (e.g. see Leviticus chapters 1-7).
These sacrifices were a way to atone for sin, provide for priests, and serve as an act of worship to God, where the worshiper gave something up, in part, to demonstrate that God was more important than what was being sacrificed.
But the first-ever sacrifice in Scripture happens at the beginning, in Genesis 3.
After Adam and Eve sinned, separating themselves from God and leaving them naked, exposed and covered in shame, God stepped in.
“The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.” Genesis 3:21 (NIV)
It is a stunning act of grace, in light of all that has just happened.
Humanity brought the consequences of sin upon themselves, but God mercifully covered their shame for them.
And something had to die for this to happen—animal skins don’t grow on trees. It is the first recorded death in the newly fallen world. Sacrifice was needed to deal with sin’s shame.
It’s a small foretaste of what was to come in Jesus, but it shows us both the seriousness of our sin, and the enormity of God’s mercy.
In sacrifice, something dies to bring life; it is the way of the Kingdom. This week, let’s be men who grow in this sacrifice.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your great mercy! Thank You that You take the initiative in covering my shame. Help me this week to become more like You. Amen.
Reflection: How do you define the word “sacrifice” in your spiritual journey? Where do you see it at work in your life?
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