"Now I rejoice in what was suffered 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" (Col 1:24).According to the dictionary the word "sacrifice" means to surrender or lose something in order to obtain something else.
Take a few minutes to meditate on different situations in your life:
- Situations where you made no effort at all
- Situations where you made a great effort
Which of them do you think helped you to grow faster teaching you more about who you are or should be in Christ?
It does not mean if we are not constantly suffering we are not good Christians, Jesus suffered and carried all our sins and diseases to the cross, making a new covenant of grace and salvation by His sacrifice, He has given us victory already. The kind of sacrifice that I am talking about is the one that goes against our own character. There is a question that I heard once and it helps me so much when I am in a difficult situation: If Jesus were in my place, what would He do? Sometimes I have found I was about to do exactly the opposite of what He would do.
It is very important to keep these things in mind:
1) What is a sacrifice for me maybe is not at all for you and vice versa. Each of us is unique, with different talents, gifts and callings. Do not judge your brother but pray to find the best way to work together peacefully.
2) The things that really make sense in life always cost something. There is no resurrection without death. (…unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Jn 12:24).
3) Fix your eyes on Jesus and everything will be much easier. (Acts 7:54-60; 2Cor 4:17-18)
4) Sacrifice should have a purpose and it cannot go against the Word of God or His will for our life. A few years ago I met a rich man but when he became Christian he wanted to be poor and even rejected his family because he thought he would be a good Christian if he sacrificed something that he was so comfortable with, but the truth was that he was called to do exactly the opposite, he was called to “give”, to share his wealth with those in need, to work even harder and give more to the body of Christ. (Jer 6:20; Mt 9:13;Mark 12:32-34)
5) It could be painful but produces peace in your heart. (2Cor 4:7-15)
6) And finally but no less importantly, do everything for and with love. (“If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing”. 1Cor 13:3)
When we have a close relationship with God He shows us when to lay down our pride, how to stay when we just want to run away, and when to say “sorry” when we still think we are right. This is a daily learning curve. In the end, that sacrifice that you thought you could not make results a blessing for you and for the rest of THE BODY.
“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain” 1Cor 15:58.
IT IS NOT EASY BUT HOW REWARDING IT IS……..
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