Sacrifice

There is a story told of a young boy whose older brother was in a car crash. The father approached the younger son shortly after the crash and said, "Son, if you will, your older brother needs a blood transfusion in order to live. The doctors have determined that only you can provide this blood . Will you provide blood for your brother so that he may live?" The younger son did not hesitate in answering he would indeed help his older brother. The little boy did not realize how simple and safe it was to donate blood to someone.

The car ride to the hospital was unusually quiet for this normally very talkative little boy. The father, at the same time in the most awkward and difficult position of his entire life, thought it best to leave the young boy to his own thoughts. The father and young boy entered the now familiar doors of the town hospital. As the father and son sat in the hospital room, the nurse entered with the needle in hand. She commented how courageous the young boy was, prepared the boy's right arm as she had done to hundreds of other patients over the years, and slowly inserted the needle into his arm ; the container quickly began to fill with the young boy’s blood. After it was full, the young boy, with tears in his eyes, turned to his father and asked, "Daddy, how long do I now have before I die?" (Oh! The little boy had thought he had to give up his own life so that his older brother’s life could be saved!)

We can relate this story to what Jesus did for us. He died for our sins as a SACRIFICE so that we wouldn’t have to kill animals and put them upon the Brazen Altar like Israel had to do in the Old Testament under the Law. Aren’t you glad that we no longer have to do that? Jesus paid the ultimate price for our sins. God had a more perfect way and that was through the sacrifice of His Son, once for all.

In the story, the young boy gave blood to save his brother's life. Jesus, our Savior, sacrificed Himself to save our lives, to give us life eternal! Next time you feel discouraged, just think about what a wonderful gift we have been given- Jesus dying on the cross as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. Praise the Lord today for the great sacrifice He made, and if you have not done so already, let Jesus save your life...

-[Destiny Turner]