The definition of the word “sacrifice” is an act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy. Now I don’t know about you, but I think most people think of a sacrifice as a negative thing. I mean, who wants to give up something that they value so dearly? Not me. It’s easier to hold onto things we care about.
If I buy an iced coffee, I wouldn’t immediately think about giving it to someone else who is more tired than I am. It’s more comfortable to keep what’s familiar in our lives. The truth is, sacrifice is actually a beautiful action. Going along with that iced coffee example, if I were to give it to someone who needed it, I would be saying that their complete presence is more important to me than my iced coffee that I so highly value (And if you know me, you know I value iced coffee).
God has been teaching me a lot about sacrifice recently. Even though I may not think of something I’m giving up as a “sacrifice,” He is showing me just how significant it is. I’m choosing to sacrifice a year of my life, time with family and friends, a comfortable bed, familiar foods, 95% of my wardrobe, potential job opportunities, and my comfort zone in general. I’m laying all of that down for a more worthy cause: loving the broken, serving those who need a helping hand, and spreading hope and encouragement.
Last night I was playing a game commonly known as manhunt with my friends, but our version is called underground church. Basically, it’s hide and seek in the dark. The goal is for the church members to gather together with the pastor after scattering and hiding from the police. I was on the side of the church and several of us had just gotten rescued from jail, and we heard where the pastor was. So we headed in that direction. But then we saw one of the police heading our way, and instead of just running in the opposite direction with everyone else, I decided to stand by the wall just around the corner.
I don’t know why, but something in me was telling me not to run. I thought, if I get caught, I get caught. The police could only take one person back to the jail at a time, so when I was caught, it allowed the rest of my team to escape. Later, I realized that I was the necessary sacrifice required for my team to be able to win, and that blew my mind.
There is so much beauty in sacrifice. I know so many wonderful people who truly live lives as living sacrifices, and it is such an encouragement to me. I want to reach a point where I am able to regularly make these little sacrifices, laying my life down without hesitation or worrying about recognition. Why would I want to do that? Because Jesus did that for me.
Jesus took on the weight of our wrongdoings and died the death that we deserved so that we could be set free and have a relationship with the God of creation. Through His sacrifice, He gave up His perfect life because He values us so much more. Now that’s love.
“For the greatest love of all is a love that sacrifices all. And this great love is demonstrated when a person sacrifices his life for his friends.” -John 15:13
