Sacrifice part 5
I saved this Rant for the end because I think--I hope--it ties a bow on what we've been talking about. Ok. Here's my thought for today: When you love somebody, paying the price, making the sacrifice, laying down your life for them... is easy. It doesn't feel like a sacrifice at all. It doesn't feel like you're missing out on anything at all. It feel good. It feels wonderful. It feels RIGHT. Because there is no greater joy in this world than sharing the love that God has for you with someone else. Jesus said it this way, "...It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). And of course you have to receive BEFORE you can give... because if you don't first receive then you don't have anything to give... but receiving it's the be all end all. Giving is. Love IS giving. I've heard it say you can give without loving, but you can't love without giving. God so loved the world that He GAVE His only begotten Son. So when we love each other, by definition we are giving ourselves to each other. Sacrificing ourselves for each other. Esteeming others higher than ourselves, and choosing to look out for them instead of looking out for ourselves. I love what Paul said--even though it is so often misquoted--in Philippians 4:19. How I always hear people misquote it is this, "God shall supply all MY need according to his riches in glory." And while that may be true (in fact, God has ALREADY supplied all MY need), that's not what Paul said. The quote is, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." MY God will supply YOUR need. I already have what I need. And because I have it, I can share it with you. So now YOU are covered. I was already covered, and I'm covering you, so now we're all covered. I take care of you, you take care of me, and neither of us needs to take care of ourselves. It's so freeing to be safe and secure in Daddy's arms. Instead of running around like a chicken with my head cut off, trying to make sure I'M ok... I can use my time, talent, and treasure making sure YOU'RE ok. And, again, because I love you, this isn't a burden. This is my reasonable service. This is what I WANT to do with my time, talent, and treasure. I want to help people. Not because I need anything from people, but because I have something to GIVE to people. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross gave me everything I will ever need. And not only gave it to me, but gave it to me in abundance. So now, because of what I've been filled to overflowing with, I have something to give. Something to share. Something to say. I have love to give. Love to share. Love to say. It flows out of my belly like a river of living water. Not because I force it to, but because that's what it does naturally. That's what a new creature, a new man does. With a LOVE NATURE we love... naturally. And here's the kicker. Here's the grand finale. With a love nature love isn't just what we do. Love is who we are! Jesus, our true identity, is God in the flesh. Love in a body. God in OUR flesh. Love in OUR body. So that sacrifice--giving what we've got, giving who we are--is the most natural thing in the world. It's not hard. It's not a burden. It's just love.