The one thing God wants more than anything is the one thing we need the most: daily sacrifices that put to death our human nature and self-focus. Brethren, God never asks us to sacrifice anything that is not for our own good. Paul tells us in Philippians that we must reframe sacrifice as an investment. Paul tells us in Philippians 3:8-9 that he counted all things as loss. Not just as loss, actually as rubbish, he says, that he may gain Christ in the righteousness of God through faith.
Brethren, we too must reframe sacrifices as investments. We must count all things loss as Jesus commands in Luke 14:26 and Matthew 16:24-25, and as Paul exhorts right here in Philippians, we must be ready to sacrifice everything to follow and imitate Jesus Christ, so that we can have fellowship with His sufferings. Fellowship with His sacrifice is what Paul is saying, so that we then can be conformed to His death. Sacrifice is not just the one thing, sacrifice is everything.
