Sacrifice

Sacrifice – We all do it every day. We give up of something valuable or important for somebody or something else considered by us to be of more value or importance. Regular soda instead of diet. Dollar menu instead of quarter-pounders. WalMart instead of Dillards. We bypass tickets to the big game so that we can watch our children play instead. We give up soda and drink water because we feel our health is more important. We give up buying the latest CD or DVD to save for the more valuable MP3 player. We give up our seat on the bus because the young lady’s comfort is more important than our own. We give up buying that new car, because we think it is more important for our kids to have braces. Often we sacrifice now in hopes that we might gain more value in the future (for example, the stock market, retirement savings and life insurance, putting in our time now to make the climb up the ladder of success easier and quicker).

Some “sacrifices” we make are easy – no big deal; some are necessary; and others are real struggles. But all sacrifices have one thing in common…they must be made willingly!

From the beginning of time, we have wanted to offer sacrifices to our Creator. Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock and the LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering. Abraham was willing to sacrifice his own son simply because God asked. By faith Noah sacrificed years of his life to build an ark that would save his family…and all mankind. Moses sacrificed the comfort of his father-in-laws fields and flocks to wander 40 years in the wilderness so that God’s power would be shown in Egypt and throughout the nation of Israel. The apostles sacrificed their careers to follow Jesus. Jesus willingly sacrificed His own life because of His love for us…And all He asks in return is for us to sacrifice our lives because of our love for Him.

The question then, is whether we are willing to give up our own pleasures and our own desires and our own selfishness for One who is more deserving, more valuable, and more important than us? If we say “yes, Lord,” we will gain a future reward that is out of this world!

Then Jesus said to all the people: If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross each day and follow me. If you want to save your life, you will destroy it. But if you give up your life for me, you will save it. Luke 9:23-24 (CEV)