Humbled by Sacrifice

When was the last time you were asked to truly sacrifice?  Sacrifice is not something that we like to lead with in life--it’s so...sacrificial.    

It’s easier to sacrifice when you know that sacrifice will be appreciated, when you know it will lead to something good, something worthy of that sacrifice.  It is much harder to make a sacrifice when you don’t know how it is going to turn out, when you don’t know if that sacrifice will ever be appreciated or even noticed.  

Paul in the book of Colossians leads us to a perspective on sacrifice that is challenging and real.  

JOY AND SACRIFICE

“Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of His body, which is the church.”

Colossians 1:24 (NIV)

Wait!  Does that even make sense?  Paul, you rejoice in your sufferings and sacrifice?  You are glad in your sacrifice?  Was Paul so spiritual that the loss of his freedom in a prison unjustly accused didn’t matter?  That hot food and creature comforts were unimportant?  

No.  I’m sure Paul loved those things like the rest of us...but here’s the point--Joyful sacrifice is giving up something you love for something you love more.

Paul loved seeing people follow Jesus even more than he loved his personal freedoms or creature comforts.  And if he had to give up the second to help the first, he’d gladly do it.  It’s the idea: Jesus is worth it.  People are worth it.  

I’ve heard joyful sacrifice compared to childbirth and being a parent.  I was present at the birth of both of my daughters.  I might or might not have gone pale and felt faint during the process.  Who would go through all of childbirth voluntarily and maybe even call the process beautiful?  Moms would say: If that’s what it took to bring you into the world, I’m glad when I suffer for you.  Paul says in Colossians: That’s how I feel about you spiritually.  I rejoice in my suffering because of what I know it is producing in you. 

I’ll do whatever it takes, pay whatever price I need to pay, for you to know Jesus.  

Joyful sacrifice is giving up something you love for something you love more.

JESUS FIRST

Jesus is worth our sacrifice.  He is worth the opportunity to sacrifice.  

It’s all about our own personal attitude as followers of Jesus.  Personal sacrifice is what we expect to live out, not personal comfort.  It is all part of making sure Jesus is first.  

The Bible is full of accounts of selfless service and generosity--where people put their faith into action to give or help or to share or represent Jesus.  

Mary Magdalene's sacrifice while anointing Jesus’ feet was something that cost her so much but that action showed her love and devotion as she put Jesus first.  (Matthew 26:6-13)

The widow who had little but gave all she had as an offering, did that as part of putting Jesus first.  (Luke 21:1-4)

THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.     1 John 3:16 (NIV)

Here’s where we have to start.  Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice for us all leads us to a willingness to have joyful sacrifice as part of our life.  It helps in our mission of telling others about Jesus.  “Joyful sacrifice is giving up something you love for something you love even more.”

It’s all part of what happens to us when we take that life-changing step: Jesus First.