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The Insanity of Sacrifice: A 90 Day Devotional
Bestselling author Nik Ripken, mentored by believers in persecution, offers a 90-day devotional to help you align your heart with God's, seeing the role sacrifice plays in the life of every follower of Jesus Christ. Individuals and families will be challenged to embrace sacrifice as their daily offering to God. It is through offering ourselves that we mirror the nature of the Father who gave His only Son to be crucified, and the nature of the Son who gave His very life to save sinners. Through this book readers will discover that their sacrifice can lead others, across the street and across the oceans, to discover new resurrection life in Christ.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2019
50 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
About the author
Nik Ripken
19 books115 followersNik Ripken is the world's leading expert on the persecuted church in Muslim contexts. He is a missions veteran of 30 years, having served primarily in North Africa and the Middle East. He is the author of The Insanity of God and the new book The Insanity of Obedience. He and his wife have done extensive research on the persecuted church, and on Muslim background believers, in approximately 72 countries.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 2, 2020
2 stars. I decided to DNF it. Review to come.
May 21, 2023
Definitely the best devotional I’ve ever read!
For my own future notes:
Page 25 - “In Deuteronomy 17, we encounter specific instruction for the kings who will one day rule Israel. Among other detailed guidelines, each king is expected to write his own copy of God's law, in his own hand. Then, the kings are instructed to read their scroll and to follow faithfully all the words that are there.
This is a remarkable instruction. We might imagine a king saying, in response to this instruction, "Well, I already have a scroll. I can read it anytime I please. So why would I need to write my own copy? That would be a waste of time! Surely, I am too busy to do that!"
But that attitude would miss the point of the instruction. The king was required to write his own scroll because, in the writing of the words in his own hand, the words become a part of him. To complete the task of writing, the king would need to slow down enough to allow the words to sink in. And if that were to happen, the king's behavior and charscer would be affected. In writing these words slowly and carefully, the king would be changed.”
Pages 52-54 - “Each evening, there in the bush, we would simply stop our vehick under a tree, light a lantern, and wait for believers that might show up.
At first, it seemed that no one was even in the area. But quickly, we had a group of about fifteen men and three women.
They were hungry to learn more about the faith. They also seemed especially interested in hearing the stories of persecuted believers in other countries.
As we talked and shared stories, we sensed that the group had something else in mind too. It became clear rather quickly that they were interested in any financial help that we could give them. At that time, there was nothing that we could give them, but we sensed that it was important to follow up on their request.
"Why are you asking us for financial help?” we asked.
Their explanation was simple and to the point: "It is God's will that those who have more should help those who have less."
Keep in mind that we were in a very remote setting. We were literally sitting under a tree in the dark in a desolate area in a nation known for its isolation from the rest of the world.
"Did you all hear about what happened recently in New Orleans in the United States?" we asked the group. "Are you aware of the massive destruction that was caused by Hurricane Katrina? Many people were killed and many other people lost everything. In fact, many of the people suffering there are your brothers and sisters in Christ."
We continued: "Isn't it wonderful that God has sent us here to let you know about their need so that we can gather a love offering for followers of Jesus in New Orleans who are in such great need?"
We were not attempting to be clever, and we certainly did not want to shame these dear believers in this remote part of Sudan. But we did want to help them understand that all who follow Jesus are called to share what they have with one another.
Hearing our words, the immediate response of the group that evening was silence. They were not offended by what we had said, but they certainly were deep in thought.
The next evening when we gathered again under the tree, the group appeared as usual. This time, however, they had a gift that they had brought for the believers in New Orleans. It amounted to about twenty U.S. dollars. We have no idea where the money came from-or how they were able to gather their offering: But they brought it joyfully. They were eager to have a part in helping people who were in need. They were so proud and so happy that they could give.”
Page 63 - “In Matthew I4 we read about Jesus' feeding of the five thousand, a beautiful story of compassion and care. But that beautiful story follows hard on one of the most grievous events in the entire New Testament. King Herod has taken the life of John the Bapist. After that hideous event, John's disciples go to Jesus and tell Him what has happened.
And that seems to be the end of that particular story- but it is not.
In response to this terrible thing that has happened, Jesus withdraws (by boat) to a solitary place. Clearly, Jesus is grieving and He is deeply burdened. Surely, Jesus deserves some time alone. But the people get wind of His location- and they track Him down. In fact, the people are already there when Jesus' boat reaches land.
These are imperfect conditions for ministry. And in those imperfect conditions . .. Jesus has compassion on the people, and He heals their sick. And then He feeds them.
Given all that has happened, this is not really the best time for ministry. Nevertheless, Jesus provides compassion and healing and feeding and teaching. In these imperfect conditions, Jesus gives Himself.
Some days seem perfect for ministry. But most days are not like that at all.
Some situations seem perfect for ministry. But most situations are not like that at all.
Even so, we are called to go and serve and give and help every day -even on the days marked by imperfect conditions. Together, human need and deep compassion come together to provide the ideal
conditions for ministry.”
Pages 96-97 - “For a time we lived in a county where we could not speak the local language. Obviously, that would make sharing Jesus a special challenge. During that time, we came up with a strategy that we thought might work. We would need to take taxis as we traveled around the city and we agreed Ruth would sit in the back seat of the taxi and pray while Nik would sit in the front seat and hope that God would allow the possibility of a spiritual conversation with the driver. Normally, a passenger would not sit in the front seat, but we were hoping that our unusual seating arrangement would open doors to conversation.
Of course, this strategy was predicated on the driver being able to speak English-so that became a part of our praying as well! It would have been unusual to find an English-speaking driver in this Muslim country, so we were once again asking God to provide something that would have been quite uncommon.
On our first morning in the country, we found a taxi to take us to the marketplace. Amazingly, the taxi driver was able to speak English.
As we settled in for our ride to the market, the driver warmly welcomed us to his country.
Then, he turned and asked us a question that we will never forget.
In complete seriousness, he said, "I have been waiting for you. I must know ... what is the meaning of life? Can you tell me what that is?”
I turned and looked at my wife, as if jokingly to say, "You might want to slow down your prayers just a little!"
We had prayed for this kind of opportunity, but still we were stunned. Knowing that this could be a long conversation, I first suggested that the driver slow down. And he did. What should have been a five- or ten-minute ride to the market turned into a forty-minute trip.
Unfortunately, the driver kept his taxi meter running the entire time!
But we were happy to pay a larger fare for the opportunity to share with this man. For forty minutes, while Ruth prayed, I was able to discuss with this man about "the meaning of life.”
We sometimes imagine that witness depends on some creative activity that we initiate or some program that we enact. And those can often be truly helpful in our efforts to share Jesus. All the same, it seems to us that witness is often more about listening and about sensing what God might already be doing in someone's life. We have learned that God is already at work in every place-and already at work in every life before we ever show up. And it is our responsibility to pay attention, to sense what God is already doing, and to join Him in His work.”
Pages 128-129 - “Often the best learning happened in our teaching when we had completed our formal presentations and simply invited questions and conversation. That certainly happened one night in Sudan. The question itself broke our hearts; one of the women asked,
"When they beat us for our faith, can we fight back?"
We allowed the question to hang in the air as the gathered group struggled about how to answer.
The men in the group spoke first. "Of course, you must fight back!" they said. "If you do not fight back, it will get worse and worse. No one will blame you for fighting back!"
That seemed like an obvious answer, until several of the women offered a different view: "But we must remember what Jesus taught us. We must love those who hurt us. We must not fight back!" These women called to mind what Jesus did on the cross when He offered forgiveness to His tormentors.
A thoughtful, tender conversation ensued. We were able to share stories of how other believers, though persecuted in other parts of the world, had addressed this very real problem. What seemed to startle the group the most was the suggestion that the best way to end persecution was to ask God to transform the persecutors into brothers and sisters in Christ. By helping persecutors find Jesus, persecution would come to an end. And that would happen not by running away from the persecutors or fighting the persecutors- but by loving the persecutors, praying for them, and sharing Jesus with them.
Persecuted followers of Jesus in China, in particular, saw this approach as intensely practical. Even more, they saw this approach as a mark of spiritual maturity. These believers in China prayed that God would give them a supernatural ability to love those who were causing them such pain. They asked God to change the way they saw their persecutors.
These believers in Sudan were captivated by this new thought. In fact, they said that they had never thought about this approach-and they said that no one had ever suggested that they treat their persecutors this way.
Four biological brothers immediately began to leave our gathering. We were not finished for the evening, but they stood up and prepared to leave.
When we asked them where they were going, they said matter-of-factly, "We are going right now to share Jesus with our families who persecute us. After we win them to Jesus, we will come back and learn some more."
Page 161 - “Within one single zip code in the United States . . . one hundred eighty languages are spoken.
The zip code is 11372. The neighborhood, which has a population of over 100,000 people, is called Jackson Heights, and is in the borough of Queens in New York City.
The whole world, it seems, has come to Jackson Heights.”
Pages 176-177 - “When a Russian pastor was arrested and sent to prison, his wife and children were sent far away to Siberia. The pastor's family barely survived in a dilapidated cabin. They had very little food.
One evening, as this mother and her three young children ate their last crust of bread and had their last sip of tea, the children cried, "Mama, where's Daddy?" "Mama, I'm hungry." "Mama, I'm cold and scared."
"Mama, are we going to die?"
Hardly believing it herself, she answered: "God knows where we are, and God will take care of us. Children, we have taught you all of your lives to trust God. Now it is time to trust Him."
Thirty kilometers away, God woke up a deacon who was part of a church that this pastor's family knew nothing about. In the middle of the night, this man sensed a very clear word from God. He was told:
"Get out of bed. Harness your horse. Hitch the horse to the sled. Load up all the extra vegetables that the church has harvested and the meat and other food that has been collected. Take it to the pastor's family living outside the village. They are hungry!"
The man argued, "But, Lord, I can't do that! It is freezing outside. My horse might freeze. I might freeze.”
But the Holy Spirit said clearly, "You must go! The pastor's family is in trouble!"
Again, the man argued, "Lord, You know that there are wolves. They could eat my horse. And if they do, then they will eat me. I will never make it back."
At that point, the Spirit responded, "You don't have to come back. You just have to go."
So the man went.
When he knocked on the door of that rickety cabin in the predawn hours the next morning, the banging on the door terrified the pastor's family. But imagine the joy and amazement when they fearfully opened the door to find this faithful follower of Jesus delivering food from one part of the body of Christ to another part!
The man said, "God wants us to give you this. When this food is gone, we will bring more."
Most of us would prefer to minimize our risk when we decide to obey God's call. And even if we are willing to bear some risk, we want very much to know that things will work out well. We might pore over the Great Commission searching for a hint of a guarantee. We want so much to find some assurance that, if we indeed go, at least we can be promised that we will come back!
But there is no guarantee ... other than the guarantee that Jesus Himself will be with us.
We don't have to come back ... but we do have to go.”
Pages 179-180 - “A common refrain echoed throughout dozens of testimonies from persecuted believers across the former Soviet Union.
In the face of intense pressure and severe persecution, these believers continued in their faithful obedience to God. Whether they lived or died--whether they were intimidated or locked in prison--whether they were subject to physical threats or psychological torture--they still maintained their trust in God and their desire to remain true to God's call.
How was this possible?
Our questions to them sounded something like this: How did you learn to live like this? How did you learn to die like that?
In answer to those questions, a believer in Ukraine offered this response:
I remember the day like it was yesterday. My father put his arms around me and my sister and my brother and sat us down for a talk. My Mama was crying so I knew something was wrong. Papa said, "Children, you know that I am the pastor of our church. That's what God has called me to do to tell others about Him. I have learned that the communist authorities will arrest me tomorrow. They will put me in prison because they want me to stop preaching about Jesus.
But I cannot stop preaching about Jesus; I must obey God. I will miss you very much, but I will trust God to watch over you while I am gone."
He hugged us tightly. Then my father said, "All around our country, the authorities are rounding up followers of Jesus and demanding that they deny their faith. Sometimes, when the believers refuse to deny their faith, the authorities will punish their families--and sometimes even put the family members to death. I don't want that to happen to our family.
However (and here he paused and made eye contact with each one of us), if I am in prison and I hear that my wife and my children have been put to death for their faith in Jesus, I will be the most proud man in that prison.”
We were stunned by his words. Never in our church growing up, never in our theological training, never in our mission preparation had we encountered commitment at that level. We had never been told or taught that a father should value his faith over his family. We had never been encouraged to live out that kind of sacrifice.”
Page 272 - “But God does not pay attention to our finalities.
God has so many ways of opening up things that are sealed up tight. And the fact that He can do that with Jesus and His tomb ... means that He can do that with Tim . .. and it means that He can do that with you too.
And the fact that God can do that with death means that He can do that with all of our other finalities as well. All of those places where we have decided that God is not going to work. All of those people we have labeled as beyond God's power to reach. All of those relationships we have written off. All of those people groups who are beyond hope.
We simply must understand this: we think we know what the finalities are . . . but God barely notices.
There is nothing like a burial to tell us that the story is over.
Except . .. the story is not over at all.”
For my own future notes:
Page 25 - “In Deuteronomy 17, we encounter specific instruction for the kings who will one day rule Israel. Among other detailed guidelines, each king is expected to write his own copy of God's law, in his own hand. Then, the kings are instructed to read their scroll and to follow faithfully all the words that are there.
This is a remarkable instruction. We might imagine a king saying, in response to this instruction, "Well, I already have a scroll. I can read it anytime I please. So why would I need to write my own copy? That would be a waste of time! Surely, I am too busy to do that!"
But that attitude would miss the point of the instruction. The king was required to write his own scroll because, in the writing of the words in his own hand, the words become a part of him. To complete the task of writing, the king would need to slow down enough to allow the words to sink in. And if that were to happen, the king's behavior and charscer would be affected. In writing these words slowly and carefully, the king would be changed.”
Pages 52-54 - “Each evening, there in the bush, we would simply stop our vehick under a tree, light a lantern, and wait for believers that might show up.
At first, it seemed that no one was even in the area. But quickly, we had a group of about fifteen men and three women.
They were hungry to learn more about the faith. They also seemed especially interested in hearing the stories of persecuted believers in other countries.
As we talked and shared stories, we sensed that the group had something else in mind too. It became clear rather quickly that they were interested in any financial help that we could give them. At that time, there was nothing that we could give them, but we sensed that it was important to follow up on their request.
"Why are you asking us for financial help?” we asked.
Their explanation was simple and to the point: "It is God's will that those who have more should help those who have less."
Keep in mind that we were in a very remote setting. We were literally sitting under a tree in the dark in a desolate area in a nation known for its isolation from the rest of the world.
"Did you all hear about what happened recently in New Orleans in the United States?" we asked the group. "Are you aware of the massive destruction that was caused by Hurricane Katrina? Many people were killed and many other people lost everything. In fact, many of the people suffering there are your brothers and sisters in Christ."
We continued: "Isn't it wonderful that God has sent us here to let you know about their need so that we can gather a love offering for followers of Jesus in New Orleans who are in such great need?"
We were not attempting to be clever, and we certainly did not want to shame these dear believers in this remote part of Sudan. But we did want to help them understand that all who follow Jesus are called to share what they have with one another.
Hearing our words, the immediate response of the group that evening was silence. They were not offended by what we had said, but they certainly were deep in thought.
The next evening when we gathered again under the tree, the group appeared as usual. This time, however, they had a gift that they had brought for the believers in New Orleans. It amounted to about twenty U.S. dollars. We have no idea where the money came from-or how they were able to gather their offering: But they brought it joyfully. They were eager to have a part in helping people who were in need. They were so proud and so happy that they could give.”
Page 63 - “In Matthew I4 we read about Jesus' feeding of the five thousand, a beautiful story of compassion and care. But that beautiful story follows hard on one of the most grievous events in the entire New Testament. King Herod has taken the life of John the Bapist. After that hideous event, John's disciples go to Jesus and tell Him what has happened.
And that seems to be the end of that particular story- but it is not.
In response to this terrible thing that has happened, Jesus withdraws (by boat) to a solitary place. Clearly, Jesus is grieving and He is deeply burdened. Surely, Jesus deserves some time alone. But the people get wind of His location- and they track Him down. In fact, the people are already there when Jesus' boat reaches land.
These are imperfect conditions for ministry. And in those imperfect conditions . .. Jesus has compassion on the people, and He heals their sick. And then He feeds them.
Given all that has happened, this is not really the best time for ministry. Nevertheless, Jesus provides compassion and healing and feeding and teaching. In these imperfect conditions, Jesus gives Himself.
Some days seem perfect for ministry. But most days are not like that at all.
Some situations seem perfect for ministry. But most situations are not like that at all.
Even so, we are called to go and serve and give and help every day -even on the days marked by imperfect conditions. Together, human need and deep compassion come together to provide the ideal
conditions for ministry.”
Pages 96-97 - “For a time we lived in a county where we could not speak the local language. Obviously, that would make sharing Jesus a special challenge. During that time, we came up with a strategy that we thought might work. We would need to take taxis as we traveled around the city and we agreed Ruth would sit in the back seat of the taxi and pray while Nik would sit in the front seat and hope that God would allow the possibility of a spiritual conversation with the driver. Normally, a passenger would not sit in the front seat, but we were hoping that our unusual seating arrangement would open doors to conversation.
Of course, this strategy was predicated on the driver being able to speak English-so that became a part of our praying as well! It would have been unusual to find an English-speaking driver in this Muslim country, so we were once again asking God to provide something that would have been quite uncommon.
On our first morning in the country, we found a taxi to take us to the marketplace. Amazingly, the taxi driver was able to speak English.
As we settled in for our ride to the market, the driver warmly welcomed us to his country.
Then, he turned and asked us a question that we will never forget.
In complete seriousness, he said, "I have been waiting for you. I must know ... what is the meaning of life? Can you tell me what that is?”
I turned and looked at my wife, as if jokingly to say, "You might want to slow down your prayers just a little!"
We had prayed for this kind of opportunity, but still we were stunned. Knowing that this could be a long conversation, I first suggested that the driver slow down. And he did. What should have been a five- or ten-minute ride to the market turned into a forty-minute trip.
Unfortunately, the driver kept his taxi meter running the entire time!
But we were happy to pay a larger fare for the opportunity to share with this man. For forty minutes, while Ruth prayed, I was able to discuss with this man about "the meaning of life.”
We sometimes imagine that witness depends on some creative activity that we initiate or some program that we enact. And those can often be truly helpful in our efforts to share Jesus. All the same, it seems to us that witness is often more about listening and about sensing what God might already be doing in someone's life. We have learned that God is already at work in every place-and already at work in every life before we ever show up. And it is our responsibility to pay attention, to sense what God is already doing, and to join Him in His work.”
Pages 128-129 - “Often the best learning happened in our teaching when we had completed our formal presentations and simply invited questions and conversation. That certainly happened one night in Sudan. The question itself broke our hearts; one of the women asked,
"When they beat us for our faith, can we fight back?"
We allowed the question to hang in the air as the gathered group struggled about how to answer.
The men in the group spoke first. "Of course, you must fight back!" they said. "If you do not fight back, it will get worse and worse. No one will blame you for fighting back!"
That seemed like an obvious answer, until several of the women offered a different view: "But we must remember what Jesus taught us. We must love those who hurt us. We must not fight back!" These women called to mind what Jesus did on the cross when He offered forgiveness to His tormentors.
A thoughtful, tender conversation ensued. We were able to share stories of how other believers, though persecuted in other parts of the world, had addressed this very real problem. What seemed to startle the group the most was the suggestion that the best way to end persecution was to ask God to transform the persecutors into brothers and sisters in Christ. By helping persecutors find Jesus, persecution would come to an end. And that would happen not by running away from the persecutors or fighting the persecutors- but by loving the persecutors, praying for them, and sharing Jesus with them.
Persecuted followers of Jesus in China, in particular, saw this approach as intensely practical. Even more, they saw this approach as a mark of spiritual maturity. These believers in China prayed that God would give them a supernatural ability to love those who were causing them such pain. They asked God to change the way they saw their persecutors.
These believers in Sudan were captivated by this new thought. In fact, they said that they had never thought about this approach-and they said that no one had ever suggested that they treat their persecutors this way.
Four biological brothers immediately began to leave our gathering. We were not finished for the evening, but they stood up and prepared to leave.
When we asked them where they were going, they said matter-of-factly, "We are going right now to share Jesus with our families who persecute us. After we win them to Jesus, we will come back and learn some more."
Page 161 - “Within one single zip code in the United States . . . one hundred eighty languages are spoken.
The zip code is 11372. The neighborhood, which has a population of over 100,000 people, is called Jackson Heights, and is in the borough of Queens in New York City.
The whole world, it seems, has come to Jackson Heights.”
Pages 176-177 - “When a Russian pastor was arrested and sent to prison, his wife and children were sent far away to Siberia. The pastor's family barely survived in a dilapidated cabin. They had very little food.
One evening, as this mother and her three young children ate their last crust of bread and had their last sip of tea, the children cried, "Mama, where's Daddy?" "Mama, I'm hungry." "Mama, I'm cold and scared."
"Mama, are we going to die?"
Hardly believing it herself, she answered: "God knows where we are, and God will take care of us. Children, we have taught you all of your lives to trust God. Now it is time to trust Him."
Thirty kilometers away, God woke up a deacon who was part of a church that this pastor's family knew nothing about. In the middle of the night, this man sensed a very clear word from God. He was told:
"Get out of bed. Harness your horse. Hitch the horse to the sled. Load up all the extra vegetables that the church has harvested and the meat and other food that has been collected. Take it to the pastor's family living outside the village. They are hungry!"
The man argued, "But, Lord, I can't do that! It is freezing outside. My horse might freeze. I might freeze.”
But the Holy Spirit said clearly, "You must go! The pastor's family is in trouble!"
Again, the man argued, "Lord, You know that there are wolves. They could eat my horse. And if they do, then they will eat me. I will never make it back."
At that point, the Spirit responded, "You don't have to come back. You just have to go."
So the man went.
When he knocked on the door of that rickety cabin in the predawn hours the next morning, the banging on the door terrified the pastor's family. But imagine the joy and amazement when they fearfully opened the door to find this faithful follower of Jesus delivering food from one part of the body of Christ to another part!
The man said, "God wants us to give you this. When this food is gone, we will bring more."
Most of us would prefer to minimize our risk when we decide to obey God's call. And even if we are willing to bear some risk, we want very much to know that things will work out well. We might pore over the Great Commission searching for a hint of a guarantee. We want so much to find some assurance that, if we indeed go, at least we can be promised that we will come back!
But there is no guarantee ... other than the guarantee that Jesus Himself will be with us.
We don't have to come back ... but we do have to go.”
Pages 179-180 - “A common refrain echoed throughout dozens of testimonies from persecuted believers across the former Soviet Union.
In the face of intense pressure and severe persecution, these believers continued in their faithful obedience to God. Whether they lived or died--whether they were intimidated or locked in prison--whether they were subject to physical threats or psychological torture--they still maintained their trust in God and their desire to remain true to God's call.
How was this possible?
Our questions to them sounded something like this: How did you learn to live like this? How did you learn to die like that?
In answer to those questions, a believer in Ukraine offered this response:
I remember the day like it was yesterday. My father put his arms around me and my sister and my brother and sat us down for a talk. My Mama was crying so I knew something was wrong. Papa said, "Children, you know that I am the pastor of our church. That's what God has called me to do to tell others about Him. I have learned that the communist authorities will arrest me tomorrow. They will put me in prison because they want me to stop preaching about Jesus.
But I cannot stop preaching about Jesus; I must obey God. I will miss you very much, but I will trust God to watch over you while I am gone."
He hugged us tightly. Then my father said, "All around our country, the authorities are rounding up followers of Jesus and demanding that they deny their faith. Sometimes, when the believers refuse to deny their faith, the authorities will punish their families--and sometimes even put the family members to death. I don't want that to happen to our family.
However (and here he paused and made eye contact with each one of us), if I am in prison and I hear that my wife and my children have been put to death for their faith in Jesus, I will be the most proud man in that prison.”
We were stunned by his words. Never in our church growing up, never in our theological training, never in our mission preparation had we encountered commitment at that level. We had never been told or taught that a father should value his faith over his family. We had never been encouraged to live out that kind of sacrifice.”
Page 272 - “But God does not pay attention to our finalities.
God has so many ways of opening up things that are sealed up tight. And the fact that He can do that with Jesus and His tomb ... means that He can do that with Tim . .. and it means that He can do that with you too.
And the fact that God can do that with death means that He can do that with all of our other finalities as well. All of those places where we have decided that God is not going to work. All of those people we have labeled as beyond God's power to reach. All of those relationships we have written off. All of those people groups who are beyond hope.
We simply must understand this: we think we know what the finalities are . . . but God barely notices.
There is nothing like a burial to tell us that the story is over.
Except . .. the story is not over at all.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2019
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
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
April 29, 2020
I read The Insanity of God and it absolutely opened my eyes to the world and its suffering. I am ashamed to say I live in a bubble. When I saw this devotion, The Insanity of Sacrifice, I had to get it. I have only read seven days worth but, I can tell you now, it is challenging me to be a better servant of God. This is a devotion to read slowly and then ponder the message. In seven days I have been encouraged, convicted, and challenged as a Christian. I highly recommend to anyone who wants a deeper relationship with Jesus and to do what He called us to do. I pray that I will be a sacrifice and follow His calling that will make God proud and put a smile on His face.
*I was given a copy of this devotional by the publisher and this is my honest opinion.
*I was given a copy of this devotional by the publisher and this is my honest opinion.
December 30, 2021
Hard book to get through, probably because such sacrifice is little known in America. This book does open your eyes to sacrifices others make in different places around the world and the sacrifices people and families make that go to these places.
“Sacrifice is a defining theme in the activity of God.”
“And God cares so deeply for you and for me that He will not allow us to miss out on being a part of what He is doing.”
“Willingness to one’s is something God adores.”
“ Safety, it seems, is one of the core values of the world. But safety is not one of Gods core values.”
Statements like this throughout the book make it one that causes you to stop reading and think.
“Sacrifice is a defining theme in the activity of God.”
“And God cares so deeply for you and for me that He will not allow us to miss out on being a part of what He is doing.”
“Willingness to one’s is something God adores.”
“ Safety, it seems, is one of the core values of the world. But safety is not one of Gods core values.”
Statements like this throughout the book make it one that causes you to stop reading and think.
October 4, 2020
A very challenging devotional.
November 16, 2021
A challenging devotional
Reading it everyday gave me more impetus to live for the glory of the Jesus Christ. Now it’s time to live the life.
Reading it everyday gave me more impetus to live for the glory of the Jesus Christ. Now it’s time to live the life.
November 5, 2019
Great read that reveals what true, biblical sacrifice is all about
In his new book, “The Insanity of Sacrifice: A 90-Day Devotional,” Nik Ripken (a pseudonym to protect his identity and his mission) with Barry Strickler, describes a side of the Christian life that very few of us have ever dared to tread.
Published by B&H Publishing, Ripken’s 304-page book is a 90-day devotional (with a short prayer after that day’s reading), giving the reader a glimpse into the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of the Gospel. It is the life of the persecuted church; the hidden people who have been forced by the forces of darkness to worship God in secret because of persecution for their faith.
While these precious believers have to hide in secret to worship God, they are not hidden to God, but are hidden in God. Although Ripken and his wife put their lives at risk, they also know it is worth the sacrifice to minister to the persecuted church who sacrifice their lives – and end up ministering to and teaching them about what it truly means to be live sacrificially, which most of the time involves living out their Christian lives completely shrouded in secrecy.
In fact, Day 46 of Ripken’s devotional, “Judas” discusses the importance of trust: who they can trust – and who they can’t, which often means risking their very lives or the lives of others, especially if there’s a traitor among them.
According to Ripken’s account (page 145), during one of their secret meetings, an Iranian pastor openly shared with the group what God was doing in Iran, using actual names and specific places, with some in the group warning him to be careful about openly sharing those details.
Tragically, two weeks after that meeting, this same Iranian pastor who was so open in his descriptions of what God was doing in Iran, freely naming names and places, had disappeared.
“His mutilated body was found near his home in Iran,” Ripken wrote. “This leader who had been so instrumental in God’s work in Iran – and so open about details in our meeting – had been murdered. At the time, it was unclear exactly what had happened. But five years later, at a meeting in another part of the world, we learned that someone from inside another secret gathering had betrayed this Iranian pastor. Someone who had sat at the table with other believers, someone who had listened to the stories of God’s activity… had betrayed this man of God inside of Iran. And the pastor from Iran paid the ultimate price for that betrayal.”
In the end, the insanity of sacrifice is really only insane when looking at it from the world’s perspective – especially when we can so often take for granted the freedoms God has so richly blessed us with here in America.
While the world asks us, “Why do you sacrifice your entire life to someone you can’t even see, let alone touch?” Paul boldly declared in 2 Tim. 12: 12: “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”
There’s something very nourishing about getting that glimpse into this other side of genuine, biblical Christianity that most of us do not see, let alone experience, for ourselves: the persecuted church. Ripken’s devotional is well-written, timely and sobering. I highly recommend it.
I gave Ripken’s book a 5 out of 5 stars.
Full disclosure: In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, I received an advanced copy of this book free through B&H Publishing. My opinions are my own and I wasn’t required to write a positive review.
© 2019 by Doug S., M.A.
In his new book, “The Insanity of Sacrifice: A 90-Day Devotional,” Nik Ripken (a pseudonym to protect his identity and his mission) with Barry Strickler, describes a side of the Christian life that very few of us have ever dared to tread.
Published by B&H Publishing, Ripken’s 304-page book is a 90-day devotional (with a short prayer after that day’s reading), giving the reader a glimpse into the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of the Gospel. It is the life of the persecuted church; the hidden people who have been forced by the forces of darkness to worship God in secret because of persecution for their faith.
While these precious believers have to hide in secret to worship God, they are not hidden to God, but are hidden in God. Although Ripken and his wife put their lives at risk, they also know it is worth the sacrifice to minister to the persecuted church who sacrifice their lives – and end up ministering to and teaching them about what it truly means to be live sacrificially, which most of the time involves living out their Christian lives completely shrouded in secrecy.
In fact, Day 46 of Ripken’s devotional, “Judas” discusses the importance of trust: who they can trust – and who they can’t, which often means risking their very lives or the lives of others, especially if there’s a traitor among them.
According to Ripken’s account (page 145), during one of their secret meetings, an Iranian pastor openly shared with the group what God was doing in Iran, using actual names and specific places, with some in the group warning him to be careful about openly sharing those details.
Tragically, two weeks after that meeting, this same Iranian pastor who was so open in his descriptions of what God was doing in Iran, freely naming names and places, had disappeared.
“His mutilated body was found near his home in Iran,” Ripken wrote. “This leader who had been so instrumental in God’s work in Iran – and so open about details in our meeting – had been murdered. At the time, it was unclear exactly what had happened. But five years later, at a meeting in another part of the world, we learned that someone from inside another secret gathering had betrayed this Iranian pastor. Someone who had sat at the table with other believers, someone who had listened to the stories of God’s activity… had betrayed this man of God inside of Iran. And the pastor from Iran paid the ultimate price for that betrayal.”
In the end, the insanity of sacrifice is really only insane when looking at it from the world’s perspective – especially when we can so often take for granted the freedoms God has so richly blessed us with here in America.
While the world asks us, “Why do you sacrifice your entire life to someone you can’t even see, let alone touch?” Paul boldly declared in 2 Tim. 12: 12: “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”
There’s something very nourishing about getting that glimpse into this other side of genuine, biblical Christianity that most of us do not see, let alone experience, for ourselves: the persecuted church. Ripken’s devotional is well-written, timely and sobering. I highly recommend it.
I gave Ripken’s book a 5 out of 5 stars.
Full disclosure: In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, I received an advanced copy of this book free through B&H Publishing. My opinions are my own and I wasn’t required to write a positive review.
© 2019 by Doug S., M.A.
September 16, 2019
Set up as a 90 day devotional, The Insanity of Sacrifice makes you examine how you live in light of all God has done to provide you a way of salvation, and whether you have decided to be ready to forego what you have to serve God. Each entry presents a verse and story from Nik and Ruth Ripken that highlights how they have seen sacrifice in their ministry.
The book is easy to read, but challenging. Christians can get comfortable, even complacent, and we need to realize that God wants us to follow Him, even when it isn’t comfortable. Reading about the persecution and struggles of Christians around the world makes me realize that things could be worse, and that I need to spend more time praying for Christians that face that life.
Sometimes, we get into the mindset that it means spending a few hours a week in church and giving a comfortable amount of money. If we are willing to listen, God will tell us what He wants us to do. It may not be fly around the world, but it will require us to move away from things that keep us from doing God’s will.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The book is easy to read, but challenging. Christians can get comfortable, even complacent, and we need to realize that God wants us to follow Him, even when it isn’t comfortable. Reading about the persecution and struggles of Christians around the world makes me realize that things could be worse, and that I need to spend more time praying for Christians that face that life.
Sometimes, we get into the mindset that it means spending a few hours a week in church and giving a comfortable amount of money. If we are willing to listen, God will tell us what He wants us to do. It may not be fly around the world, but it will require us to move away from things that keep us from doing God’s will.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
November 19, 2019
"The Insanity of Sacrifice," by Nik Ripken is intense. It is direct and honest about what living a life following and trusting God is all about. This is a hard-hitting, 90-day devotional about sacrifice in the kingdom of God. It is filled with convicting passages that challenge the status quo of your spiritual life.
As a missionary, Ripken has sacrificed. His family has left a multitude of trials, persecution, even death, but despite it all, they persist in seeking God, and laying down their lives to follow his calling on them. This devotional gives Christians a new perspective in modern life of a follower who will risk everything trusting God as he leads without any guarantee of safety, protection, or success.
This book is powerful! I recommend to every Christian who feels like their spiritual journey has gone stale or that they are going through the desert in their walk.
I received this as an eBook from B&H Publishing Group via NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review of the title. I did not receive any compensation from either company. The opinions expressed herein are completely my own.
As a missionary, Ripken has sacrificed. His family has left a multitude of trials, persecution, even death, but despite it all, they persist in seeking God, and laying down their lives to follow his calling on them. This devotional gives Christians a new perspective in modern life of a follower who will risk everything trusting God as he leads without any guarantee of safety, protection, or success.
This book is powerful! I recommend to every Christian who feels like their spiritual journey has gone stale or that they are going through the desert in their walk.
I received this as an eBook from B&H Publishing Group via NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review of the title. I did not receive any compensation from either company. The opinions expressed herein are completely my own.
September 18, 2019
Having read Nik Ripken's previous two books, The Insanity of God and The Insanity of Obedience, I knew when I picked up his latest book, The Insanity of Sacrifice, that I would be equally challenged. Ripken's down-to-earth and friendly tone makes you feel as if you're in a cafe together having a casual conversation. And yet the conversation is anything but casual. It's challenging in every way. If you're looking to move out of mediocrity and into a life lived fully devoted to Christ, The Insanity of Sacrifice, which focuses on the stories of persecuted believers around the world, encourages you to consider what it might mean for you to sacrifice for the call of Christ. Because some of the readings can be a bit heavy, it is helpful that the book is set up more like a devotional with 90 days' worth of readings. Readers will find the book encouraing, emotional, hopeful, and challenging.
Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for this honest review; however, the opinions expressed are my own.
Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for this honest review; however, the opinions expressed are my own.
October 22, 2019
If you have read "The Insanity of God" you will love this 90-day devotional. Nik Ripkin writes from a deeper place, as a missionary, having spent years in one of the hardest places to evangelize, Nik knows what sacrifice is. Drawing from personal experience and the experiences from others, Nik brings the bold truth about what it means to live sacrificially for the kingdom. You don't need to move to another continent to carry your cross, you can do that in your own neighborhood.
Being a Christ-follower will never be easy, it will always bring some kind of persecution or consequences. There are many ways in which, was as believers will face sacrifice, not just physically or in giving up something. This devotional will challenge you to not skirt sacrifice but embrace it as a form of holy worship to God.
I received a copy of this book from B&H in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
Being a Christ-follower will never be easy, it will always bring some kind of persecution or consequences. There are many ways in which, was as believers will face sacrifice, not just physically or in giving up something. This devotional will challenge you to not skirt sacrifice but embrace it as a form of holy worship to God.
I received a copy of this book from B&H in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
July 6, 2022
Without agreeing with every point or perspective in this, I highly recommend this devotional. It's challenging, inspiring, informative. And it could be - should be - life changing. More than that, it could help you be more useful in the Kingdom of God, not to mention more like Christ Jesus.
If you're expecting the standard feel-good, self-centered fare that all too often gets peddled as 'Christianity' these days, buckle up. You're in for a ride.
If you're expecting the standard feel-good, self-centered fare that all too often gets peddled as 'Christianity' these days, buckle up. You're in for a ride.
May 1, 2020
This devotional was very intense. I experienced a variety of emotions. Very well written and very helpful. I am very glad to recommend this book to anyone looking for a very good read and devotional. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the arc of this book in return for my honest review. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on this review.
July 27, 2020
This is a great book! Definitely add to a must read list! The characters are great and the story is well written!
December 26, 2022
Amazing. Compelling,
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