Selfishness versus Sacrifice

In this day and age, it seems like everything is magically conformed to convenience. How many times have you had a thought like, "They should just handle it this way...it would be easier." and magically, as if your brain were in tune with the universe, the update is made and you are now living in the reality of the brilliant idea you had just days ago. Whether it's movie tickets, bank statements, take-out orders, etc- everything is designed to be most convenient for you. This cultural norm is accelerating more rapidly than ever before. With the technology and information revolution at hand, updates and upgrades are a given in virtually any capacity.

While this is ideal for all of us, it has in many ways spoiled us into thinking of sacrifice as a thing of the past. Some of the most important decisions in our lives are based on sacrifice. The most important being the choice you make to receive Christ as your Lord and savior. Acceptance is the first step. As you begin to grow and walk with him, you realize that this commitment takes sacrifice. There may be times where you come to a place of discomfort with the decision you make to be a doer of his word. In Romans 12:1 Paul, in view of God's mercy, urges the offering of our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God as true and proper worship. Worshipping God with the way you live your life requires sacrifice. It requires commitment. If we were the type of people who defer to the most convenient and self serving way to do things, we would begin to place our walk with Christ in a capacity that is most convenient for us. Jesus told his disciples that whoever wants to be his disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow him. Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for him will find it (Mark 16:24-25).

Sacrifice and commitment are two very important components in the overall structure of our existence- as believers, and in all other facets. Do not allow yourself to be so far removed from commitment and sacrifice that it hinders your ability to do what the Lord has called you to do.