Sacrifice

Eugene Peterson in his chapter "Christ Plays in History" says the following: 

"If all things are possible for the Father, perhaps there is another way to do something about what is wrong with the world, a way by which I can help out and make things better other than through a sacrificial life.  In the jargon of the day, we pray: 'sacrifice is not one of my gifts - I want to serve God with my strength, with my giftedness.'  It's a strange thing, but sacrifice never seems to show up on anyone's Myers-Briggs profile.

"For people like us, trained in a culture of getting things done (pragmatism) and taking care of ourselves (individualism), sacrifice doesn't seem at all obvious; neither does it seem attractive...

...But the self-promotion and self-help ways of salvation, so popular among us, do nothing but spiral us further into the abyss."

Sacrifice is at the center of the Lord's Supper, Peterson reminds us. When you read commentators like Tom Wright you begin to understand better that Jesus' way of doing things - sacrifice, is at the center of what disciples are supposed to emulate.  We are to walk in Jesus' way.

When was the last time you made a true sacrifice?  What was the last act that cost you something dear?  Would you describe your life as sacrificial in nature?  Until we do, we're just play acting at following Jesus.

Prayer:  God save us from play acting our faith, grant us the strength to sacrifice our lives to you as you have for us.

Comments

[Milton Stanley]

Couldn't get through with a trackback ping, but I want you to know I appreciate this post and linked to it on my blog. Peace, and hope you benefit greatly from the sabbatical.