Saturday, November 30, 2019

the insanity of sacrifice isn't really insane


A few years back I read a book about a certain type of insanity and was smitten by the author’s candor and writing style.  I’m usually not a fan of devotionals, but in the case of The Insanity of Sacrifice: A 90-Day Devotional, by Nip Ripkin (with Barry Stricker) (B&H Publishing, 2019) I quickly decided that I would make an exception. There are absolutely no regrets.

These devotions are based on people that Nik and his wife know, and events that happened to them, many of which happened when they were serving God in remote locations, where it must have seemed insane to be willing to sacrifice so much, until you realize that it would be even more insane to refuse to answer the God of all creation who is calling you into His service.

Here we learn about raw grief and bitter persecution, and come to understand that as strange as it might seem at the time, it truly is a loving God who allows certain things to happen, and then turns what seems like our darkest moments into proof-positive of His love.

And after hearing about God and His glory, on day 90, when it seems like we should be hearing something about God’s love for us, and how because of that love we can survive whatever comes our way—just as Ripken and so many others have done, we’re jolted into the reality of our faith, that just as Ripken and so many others have done, we too are being called into the insanity of sacrifice so that others may come to know Jesus.

As part of the Publishers Bloggers’ Program, I received a copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive blog.

5/5

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