What is sacrifice?

10And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.11Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. 13Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, 14because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. (Hebrews 10:10-14)

Through the years, we all have seen folks who love Jesus, and who worked all night on Saturday night, but on Sunday morning they were in the house of God. These people know something about sacrifice. Their bodies were crying for sleep, but they sacrificed their sleep to come to the house of God.
Through the years, some of God’s people have had to work until it is almost church time. They get home tired, take a shower if they have time, and they gather the kids and they head for the house of God. These people know something about sacrifice.
Through the years, some of God’s people have worked hard, and when they came to church they were good stewards of God’s money, and placed God’s tithes in the offering plate. But the preacher talks about a mission’s work that needs a new roof on their little tin hut they worship in. The hardworking man thinks to himself, I have money to spare, but I want to buy a new boat to go fishing in, and if I give the money to missions, I won’t be able to do that. But the need seems so great that he takes that boat money that he had been saving, and sends it off to this little church. This man knows something about sacrifice.
A sacrifice is something with a cost!!
But when we think of sacrifice, we need to remember that Jesus gave the greatest sacrifice that was ever given. He sacrificed his life for us. I think that the importance of this sacrifice was not only that it was done at a cost, but it was done out of love. That is also an important characteristic of sacrifice, love is usually involved in some way. Whether we sacrifice ourselves for God, for a loved one, for our country, or for something we truly believe in, love is a part of that decision.
Jesus has shown us the way to true sacrifice. We should not be afraid to follow his example.

Peace and love,

Sue

"Then Jesus said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me". (Luke 9:23)