But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57 NIV

My pastor often reminds us, that when someone blesses you, (in service, a gift, time) it always comes with sacrifice on their part. To be truly thankful for the blessing someone has given us, we need to appreciate the sacrifices they made.

Thanks Be to God Because of His Sacrifice

Jesus’ entire life was a sacrifice, leaving perfection to bear our flesh and walk the way of suffering. That was the life of Jesus, wasn’t it? He gave every bit of Himself to others in His daily life, then He paid for our lives with His own. It’s easy to be so familiar with the Gospel that if we aren’t careful, we devalue it. But the power of the resurrection should be ever before us. We must remember that because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we are triumphant.

Jesus’ sacrifice did not only give us a way to Heaven, it gave us a way to live in joy now. When we think about Jesus giving us salvation, we should remember that it’s not just a ticket to Heaven, but our saving begins that very day! We have, because of the Holy Spirit, power over sin. We are no longer chained to our flesh, bound by our desires, but free! We have the Word to remind us how to conquer sin. Hide it in your heart. Fill up your mind. Let it flow from your mouth. That is where our power lies- in Jesus’ blood that paid the price, and in His Word.

Thanks be to God we are not bound by sin. We are not defeated in death. God could have saved us any way He wanted to, but He chose to do it through sacrifice. What gifts and freedoms mean the most? The ones born through sacrifice, through blood and great personal cost. Not monetary cost, but the kind that means so much more: the cost of pain, tears, humility, and service.

No Longer Bound by Sin

We can’t have true thanksgiving until we recognize the sacrifice of a gift. This time of year, we make our lists of all for which we are thankful. Our families, our homes, our jobs, our meals on the table. But the biggest gift, the most miraculous of all, is that we don’t have to be chained to our sin any longer! Because Jesus willingly gave His life for ours, we have His resurrection power living within us. We just have to acknowledge His sacrifice and give Him control over our lives. When we completely trust Jesus, no sin can hold us down. The Holy Spirit gives us power over sin and death! We do not have to fear because Jesus has already been victorious.

Thanks be to God for all the ways He has blessed us in this life. But don’t forget the most important part: Because of Jesus we can be victorious over sin! No matter what this life on earth looks like, we can be thankful for Jesus’ sacrifice for us. What love it must have taken for Him to give Himself freely for us.

Lord, may we never forget the price of our salvation. Help us to remember that because of You, Jesus, we can be confident and have power over sin. Thank You God for Your immeasurable love for us.

• What sacrifices have others made in order to bless you?
• What ways can you give of yourself to bless others?
• What areas in your life do you need to claim Jesus’ power over sin?

This devotion originally appeared on Devotable written by Jodi Arndt

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