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by Kevin Pauley
But even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. In the same way you also should rejoice and share your joy with me. - Philippians 2:17-18 HCSB
[1]Ransomed faith should be sacrificial by its very nature. After all, Christianity as we know it has its roots in the Old Testament - a book full of laws and commands that deal with sacrifices. In the New Testament, we see the fulfillment of those sacrifices, and many believe that to have been the end of sacrificial living. However, the coming of the Messiah did not end the sacrifices. Now the people of God are called not to make sacrifices of animals, but of themselves.
We live in a society that possesses great freedom to preach the gospel of Christ, yet we rarely exercise that freedom. In contrast, our brother, Paul, declared his willingness to be "poured out as drink offering" on the sacrifice of the Philippian people. Paul is referring to his willingness to be martyred for the cause of Christ. He was willing to sacrifice his life along with the sacrifice of those people.
The drink offering that Paul was referring to can be found in the Old Covenant[2] where at times a drink offering was made along with the offering of a lamb, ram, or bull. So Paul was saying that he was willing to be that drink offering to go along with the sacrifice and service of faith which the Philippian people were offering up.
Paul began the chapter saying we needed to imitate our Lord’s mindset and describe it as self-sacrificing. Elsewhere, he said that we should not conform to this world but instead offer our bodies as living sacrifices.[3] In Hebrews, we read that, considering the long history of suffering saints before us, we too should take our turn at laying aside every weight of sin, and keep our eyes on Jesus who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross.[4]
The Philippians’ sacrifice is mentioned in verses prior to today’s passage. They worked their salvation out into every aspect of their lives, allowed Hashem to work in them, sacrificed self-controlled lives in exchange for spirit-controlled lives, worked to make their testimonies shine as stars in a dark world, and held fast to the word of life.
All these sacrifices were to be prepared with “joy and rejoicing.” We are not called to wealth and worldly success, but to lives characterized by joyful sacrifices to a living and loving God. Therein is the definition of the law of sacrifice. Sacrifices for the Lord produce joy and rejoicing. Giving something to the Lord causes the Ransomed heart to be filled with joy to the point that it can even rejoice in the midst of sacrifice. That is Paul’s very point - sacrifice equals joy.
[1] Crucifixion; by Andrea Mantegna; ca. 1457 A.D.
Kevin Pauley is a pastor and writer. He lives in Illinois with his wife, Lynn, their five children and two dogs. His internet address is Berea.
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