Friday; October 20
Have you ever thought of what it means to sacrifice? Most of us use that phrase to mean we have given up something; however, when taken to its fullest meaning, sacrifice means giving up everything for a worthy cause. Christianity uses the term frequently, but to truly understand the concept we need to go back to the sacrifices of the Old Testament when animals where sacrificed to God. Sacrifices didn’t just give up something … they didn’t merely lose a part of who they were – they gave their all to be pleasing to God. I believe it is within this background that Paul wrote, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” (Ephesians 5:1-2). Since we know the end of the story – how Jesus was restored to His kingly nature – we may minimize what Jesus was willing to do to save us. However, when we appreciate that He offered all He had – in heaven an