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Sacrifice.
The word keeps waltzing around in my mind — spinning, twirling, sliding through. And with it, slip the words ‘surrender’ and ‘forfeit’ and ‘relinquishing control.’ With each turn of the words, the idea of emptying myself dances in close. Abandonment, really.
Abandonment.
But not the type of abandonment that leaves you helpless and steals your hope. Abandoning self, letting go of me and my rights, my needs, my plans — all of that stuff that imprisons and clenches an iron fist around my heart, keeping me from giving and loving and truly living free.
Have you ever felt that? The chains that tighten around your heart when you can’t get your eyes off of yourself? The choking words lodged in your throat begging to be heard — “What about me?!”
Have you ever felt that deep down desire trying to climb out, the clamoring for attention and approval and appreciation?
Sometimes, I’m sickened by me. Sometimes, I have a really hard time with sacrifice.
Maybe not when it’s big and noble and everybody sees {insert pride and self-righteousness here}, but I struggle most with sacrifice when:
- it’s behind the scenes, never seen {or recognized … or appreciated}
- it requires me to yield my rights to be right {especially with my husband}
- it costs me more than I am willing to give
But isn’t that, each one of these things, exactly what sacrifice is?
Jesus lived a life of sacrifice.
He loved even when he was rejected.
He gave when we didn’t deserve it.
He poured out and served even when no one saw.
Jesus lived a life of sacrificial serving, and He’s called us to do the same.
When we are having a hard time with sacrifice, when fruit is not being grown, we have to look at our own hearts.
“The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45).
The only way to break the vice grip of our own selfishness is to be cleansed by the One who sacrificed, trust the One who gave, and obey the One who called.
Are we willing to be crucified with Christ so that we no longer live, but Christ lives in us (Galatians 2:20)? Are we willing to die to ourselves, our desires, and our plans and trust the heart and the hand of our Savior?
In this upside down kingdom, the only way up is down. The only way to live, experiencing joy and freedom and the full, abundant life, is to die to self.
Are we willing to be living sacrifices (Romans 12:1)?
He has set the perfect example. The question now is whether or not we will follow His lead.
Question for you:
In what area of your life do you wrestle most with dying to self and sacrificing for God or others?
Very convicting post… I probably struggle with sacrifice most in my marriage. My husband is much better at it than I am. I’m learning and striving though! :)
Me, too, Jenni! Me too. :)
This spoke right to my heart!! Too often I long for the sacrifice to be noted by all, and to be shouted from the rooftops (well, maybe that’s a bit far). But, that is not the example Jesus set. Thank-you for this precious reminder.
Jessica