June 5: Sacrifice

Sacrifice is one of those concepts that seems a little mystifying. It brings to mind altars and livestock or a six week deprivation during lent. But what is a sacrifice, really and truly?

The denotation is "destruction or surrender of something for the sake of something else" (Thanks to www.merriam-webster.com). But what about in baseball? "A bunted ball that puts the batter out but allows a runner to advance." A gambit in chess allows your opponent to capture a piece in such a way that turns the advantage toward you.

When he looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. He said, "I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest." Luke 21:3

Jesus wants us to give our all, whatever that may be. We are to give freely of our time, our resources and of our self. If you are grumpy about volunteering or helping, you are only hurting yourself. If you rush through service to God to get to a personal desire, then not only have you not sacrificed anything, but you've placed worldly things above the glory of God.

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it."

-Mark 8:34-35

Where have you sacrificed for your faith? How is God challenging you to make more sacrifice?
(Post a response for 5 points. Put Mark 8:34-35 in your own words and post for 20 points.)