Sacrifice

Luke 9:23 (Berean Standard Bible) – Then Jesus said to all of them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”

What does it mean to live a life of sacrifice?

It requires putting Christ first by denying oneself, taking up your cross daily and following Him. It requires listening to Him and doing what He says daily, moment by moment.

Sacrifice requires being surrendered to the Lord. It requires being willing to do whatever he says.

Let me share one way that God may require a denying of self, taking up your cross and following Him.

One way that I offered my life as a sacrifice was to become a stay-at-home Mom in 1995. I was serving in the Military. I was married and we were about to have our first child. I had planned to continue working and serving in the Military after I had our son. Before my son was born, God placed in my heart a desire to be home with him. He had changed my desire to work outside the home to be able to be with my son all the time. It seemed impossible but God made a way. Within 30 days and a honorable discharge from the Military, God enabled me to be a stay-at-home Mom. It was a sacrifice to let go of the prestige and money that came with having a job and serving in the Military. Financially money was tight, but I truly believed that God was calling me to obey Him in this way. As time went by, our family grew even more. As I look back, I am grateful for this time that I had with all of our children. God blessed me tremendously with time and memories with my husband and my children during those years that I am truly grateful for.

God required sacrifice for me to let go of what I wanted with my job and finances to do what He wanted for my life. His plan and purpose is so much better than my own plans. I thank God for His plan.

I have realized over the years that God requires sacrifice on a daily basis. The sacrifices may not look the same for everyone. In essence, it is yielding to His will and His plan instead of my own will and what I want.

As I look at my life, I have to ask myself do I live a life of sacrifice each day? Do I live a life of sacrifice with my family and friends? Do I live a life of sacrifice with people that I encounter? Do I yield to God’s will or my own will? Do I yield to God’s plan and purpose or my own desires and plans?

John 13:15-17 (BSB) – Jesus says “I have set an example so that you do as I have done for you. Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you will be blessed to do them”

Jesus was obedient to God’s will and plan. He has set an example for us to follow. I pray that God helps each us to follow Jesus’ example, to live a life of sacrifice and to be obedient to Him. His purpose and plan are perfect and good.