Sacrifice

Today, at A Holy Experience, we are taking the time to write about the practice of sacrifice.

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Sometimes sacrifice requires letting go, an act that is most challenging.

Even when anger is justified…when the wrong hasn’t been righted…

When the one who caused the pain isn’t interested in making things right.

Forgiveness requires sacrifice in order to be whole again.

Making the choice to forgive, because isn’t forgiving always a choice?

Bitterness, revenge, and hatred bound together, longing to crowd out forgiveness.

It is much easier to give in to those feelings, than it is to sacrifice my own desires.

Why should I give in, when I did nothing wrong? Why should I have to turn the other cheek?

Why not him, or her?

Sacrifice is always messy……

and no one comes away from the altar untouched.

Giving up what I thought I wanted for what is better.

Always better.

…………………………….

And sacrifice requires blood.

The Lamb was perfect and blameless.

Sacrificial.

He gave of Himself so that I could live.

Even when I was wrong and didn’t care.

When I caused Him pain, and didn’t give it a second thought.

When I wasn’t looking for Him, He was searching for me.

My name was on His mind…

When He was nailed to the altar on that day, and the world changed forever.

The word sacrifice took on a new meaning.

It was finished

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.   ²⁰ “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹ that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²² I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— ²³I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

   ²⁴ “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

   ²⁵ “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. ²⁶ I have made you^[e] known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”  John 17 NIV

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.  John 19:30 NIV

 

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