Sacrifice is counter-cultural. We live in a society that affirms a “me-first” life. Shoving people in line on Black Friday, honking and yelling our way down the street because Grandpa is driving too slow in front of us, ranting and raving about our Amazon delivery being delayed to day three… Even the idea of self care can lead to an expectation of self-first being the most important way of living. I must know what I need When used appropriately, it is good to find rest and reset, but when it becomes idolatry, it leads us away from Christ-likeness. Yet sacrifice is the theme of the gospel for the believer.
We are constantly fighting against self, sin and Satan. All three pulling us and pointing us away from the Living Sacrifice. All three thriving on the moments we turn inward, self centered, prideful. And those choices leading us to times of folly and dissatisfaction and despair. While sacrifice may be counter-cultural, it is in fact Christ cultural and because of His work in our lives, should be the hope of our hearts.
As a parent, I find my lack of sacrifice to be glaring. The
number of things that pull at me the moment I sit down on the couch for the
first time of the day: “Mom, this toy needs new batteries.” “Mom, I’m hungry.”
“Mom, come look at what I did!” “Can you play a game of knock-out?” The
requests go on and on. And all I want to do is live my life, my way. And yes,
there are times for the little ones to practice patience, or receive a “no,”
but when the little demands on my own time and interest can be answered with
love, a sacrifice of time or energy, that goes a long way too. Because we know
this to be true: there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s
friends. (John 15:13)
One of Gavin and my college professors, Dwight Peterson, used to share an illustration in some of his messages. He talked about a time he and his wife had gone out for a fast food meal together. While getting the drinks for the two of them, Dwight grabbed two lids to put on the cups. As he popped them on, he noticed one cup was slightly dented. He went back to the table and moved to hand his wife the dented cup. Immediately convicted about the lack of love this was showing, he switched it and took the dented one for himself. Such a minor, minute detail that would have caused her no harm, and yet he realized the intent of his heart was to provide the better option for himself. Sometimes Gavin and I laugh to each other as we find ourselves reaching for the slightly better option and reference the dented cup.
All of these are such small examples of sacrifice. Which, again, I believe shows the immensity of the “me-first” lives we live. Today we celebrate Easter. Resurrection Sunday. The celebration of life eternal because of the greatest sacrifice ever made. So, let’s take a moment to remind ourselves of this sacrifice:
Romans 5:8 “But God shows His love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 “For our sake, he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Isaiah 53:5 “But He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds are we healed.”
The perfect, righteous Son of God bearing the weight of our sin, fulfilling the punishment of our death, feeling the separation of the Father. Physical, spiritual torment and abuse at the hands of the ones He loves, the ones He created. The sacrifice that freed, gave hope and a future, destroyed guilt and death. Unmatchable, incomparable. And it is with this freedom through sacrifice that we are called to sacrifice for others. To live counter culturally and continue to model Christ in us. Take the dented cup.
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who
live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live
by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians
2:20)
