A Living Sacrifice
“And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate! And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD. And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.” —2 Samuel 23:15-17
Beloved, offer unto Me a drink offering as precious as that which David offered. Give unto Me a solemn sacrifice in the same manner as David’s three mighty men have done.
And what was their sacrifice? Was it simply a cup of water? Did they not endanger their lives for this gift? Was it not as blood1—their very life and loyal service—poured out from this cup?
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” —Romans 12:1
Beloved, I desire your sacrifice. I desire the sacrifice of your life.
I want you to be as those three mighty men, who performed the will of their king, and gave all—even to the jeopardy of their own lives.
As David thirsted for the water beyond the garrison of the Philistines, so too do I thirst. I thirst for you to go in the power of My Spirit, not clinging to this present world2, but fighting valiantly against the evil one. I thirst not for common waters, but for the waters of Bethlehem.
Could not these three mighty men have found another more convenient well? Could they not have simply refused, and dwelt at ease? Could they not have commissioned another to do the work instead?
No, no, no. Where is the life investment? Where is the sacrifice? And truly, where is the reward?
“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” —Colossians 3:23-24
Soldier, you have dwelt in the comfortable land of safety and mediocrity for far too long. Am I not calling you to the dangerous water at the well of Bethlehem?3 Am I not calling you to pour out your life before Me in valiant service?
How did these mighty men of old become so valorous? Was it through arbitrary and passive promotion? They proved themselves in the fight. They earned their rank through bravery and devotion.
Surely these mighty men were not exalted from the sidelines, nor were they exalted so that they might then sit on the sidelines. They fought to please their king, and in doing so, they were rewarded with even greater conflicts, and even greater honor.
And now, I, King Jesus, am beckoning you, “Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!”
Fight for your King,4 that you may present to Him the cup of your very life, that it may be poured out to the glory of God.
