Lenten Word 35: Sacrifice

We see in our Lord the life of one who surrendered to God and allowed Himself to be our sacrifice. Jesus gave up whatever self-interests and self-centeredness He had,to live among us and die for us. Jesus was the Pascal Lamb, the one to die for our sins. The idea of dying for sins comes from the Old Testament, where we know the wages of sin is death, and early on the use of lambs as the object of sacrifice is introduced. Thus the term sacrificial lamb.

We were born with the notion of self-preservation, doing everything and anything to stay alive. Much of our lives we have placed ourselves first just to get or be where we are. Sacrifice goes against that. Sacrifice is realizing that sometimes we have to give ourselves for others. You may have grown up in a home where food was limited and we wanted the best serving of the meal being offered and we may have even seen one of our parents give up their portion so that we could eat. That was sacrifice. We read about those who give up an organ for their child or for a friend, or even for a stranger so they can live. That is sacrifice.

We're only four days away from the day we call Good Friday, when a man died for us after suffering much. That was the ultimate sacrifice and our model for how we should live our lives. May this Lenten Journey teach us about what we truly have yet to give up for the sake of God and God's people.

Lord, teach me about giving in my living, especially sacrifice living and sacrifice giving. In the name of He who gave all for me, Jesus the Christ, amen.