I’ve been wrestling with this blog for some time. The concept of sacrificial living has been pressing heavier on my heart and I would like to share what I am discovering: not because I’m perfectly applying it but because it is important and I want to get better at it. Over the past two months we have been abundantly blessed by people willing to sacrifice their time and resources for our benefit, and our pastor’s sermons have had the theme of sacrifice woven throughout. Let’s take a deeper look.

In one sermon our pastor mentioned that we have all been given time, talents and treasure. As Christians submitted to the lordship of Christ, these all belong to Him. Upon hearing this I adamantly agreed, but then I wondered how that fleshes out for someone like me- I’m pretty much at home during the week; I don’t have any sparkling talents to speak of; and my hobby businesses aren’t lucrative enough to save a starving child in Africa. In other words, am I really a living sacrifice candidate? I’ve been considering what sacrifice looks like in my life.

1. Sacrifice can involve seeing others. During my hospitalization in March, and the following weeks of anxiety, pain, and depression, my thoughts frequently drifted to others who were suffering or who had suffered and I found a unique empathy for them that I previously had not felt. I realized that sometimes the stony path needs to be felt beneath my feet for me to grasp a little more of what it’s like in someone else’s shoes. It’s easy to make sweeping judgments about someone else’s experiences and how I think I would handle things if I was in their place; it’s easy to be consumed by my own hardships and tune out the pain in my neighbor’s life; it’s hard to discipline my emotions and thoughts enough to make room for the struggles of the people next to me. That’s sacrifice.

2. Sacrifice means choosing joy. I won’t lie. I like to wallow: in self-pity; in fatigue; in pessimism; in a negative mindset. But when I wallow I bring everyone in my home down with me. Basically, I rob them of a good day. There are days when I have to grit my teeth and get moving, doing the right thing and speaking with the right tones. It’s a choice that involves sacrifice because it is often the last thing my flesh wants to do.

3. Sacrifice puts “self” in the appropriate perspective. I have value; however, I am quick to assume that putting others first equates to devaluing my life. But my life does have value because Christ claims me as His own. Playing the martyr every day does not bring glory to God or promote a joyful atmosphere but living in the knowledge of my eternal value does. When I set my mind on praising God for His sacrifice, it brings joy to follow in His steps for those around me. And that is sustainable sacrificial living.

After ironing out my thoughts in this blog, I think that there is ample opportunity for me to live a sacrificial life. My prayer is that Christ will equip me to do just that every day.