Only The Best Will Do

Once I read of two American business men who were visiting Korea. There they saw a young farmer pulling a plough, guided by his father. The Americans mentioned this to the missionary of that area and he told them that the father and son were Christians, and that they had sold their only ox and given the money to help build a new church. "What a sacrifice", said one of the Americans. "That's not the way they look on it", said the missionary. "They count it a great joy that they had an ox to give to the Lord's work."

The book of Leviticus in the Bible is full of references to sacrifice and to the animals to be brought for sacrifice. It is always said that the animals had to be "without blemish" or defects. Only the best would do.

The New Testament tells us in different places how God sent his only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, "as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they've done to our relationship with God." (1 John 4:10, The Message). He is the perfect Lamb of God. God's own precious Son — only the best will do!

If we are willing to give the best we have to the one we love the most, think of how God must have loved us — we who did not even love God until in his mercy he loved us first and gave his very best for us. What does God want us to give to him? Only the best will do!

Prayer

Dear Lord, I thank you for Jesus my perfect, precious Saviour. Amen.