Wednesday; February 26
This time of year there is a lot of talk about sacrificing something for religious purposes. For some, this discussion represents a year-long willingness to give up a certain behavior to be pleasing to God while, for others, it is a seasonal choice that is made to reinforce a commitment to their religious principles. Either way, there is a belief that service to God does not come without a willingness to pay a price or make an investment to seek His approval. In essence, we are willing to give up something we like (or sacrifice) in an appeal to God’s good graces. While individual sacrifice can be a positive rite of human religion, we must be cautious not to believe that this type of offering is enough to impress God. Sure, giving up something we enjoy can help us reinforce our religious commitment, but it pales in comparison to what God and His Son were willing to give up to save us. God separated Himself from our Lord and watched Him be put to death to appease sin. Jesu