Sacrifice

Today is Palm Sunday, the official kick-off to holy week. As most know, it also ends the period of Lent. This year, we've been encouraging people to observe Lent by participating in the significant sacrifice program offered by Lifewater.

I think sacrifice is a good term to describe Lent, but people think of sacrifice in different ways. For most, the idea of sacrifice is something difficult, which it can be. Sacrifice requires giving something up, doing without something, or giving of your time and talents to help others or the kingdom of God. When you think of sacrifice in those terms, it becomes something tough.

Of course, like many, I struggled with the idea of sacrifice and I, too, found that 40 days felt like a long time. That is until I started to think about the idea of sacrifice in a different light. That's what today's experience video was all about.

Sacrifice can also be a gift. Though it feels difficult at first, and can be a difficult process, giving of our selves, our times, and our resources can be a gift. It can make us thankful for all that we have, show us a different way to live, and open us up to new experiences that make our lives more fulfilling. Jesus modeled a life of sacrifice for us.

Think about the best gift you ever received. It probably cost the person that gave it to you something, maybe even a lot, especially if it’s something big like a car. But no matter how great that gift is, it’s nothing compared to the gift and sacrifice Jesus gave all of us. All we have to do is embrace that gift and his love for us. That’s what the song we sang today, “How He Loves,” is all about.

When I think about this sacrifice, I remember the song "Love Song" by Third Day, which is sung from the point of view of Jesus. The final chorus goes like this, “Just to be with you, I've done everything; There's no price I did not pay no; Just to be with you, I gave everything; Yes, I gave my life away; Just to be with you.”

That is our God. He sacrificed everything for us. Jesus' sacrifice was the greatest gift the world ever received. What will you do to honor that sacrifice?

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