The Walk of Christ - the fruit of sacrifice
Wednesday ~ April 20 - Passion Week Day 4
Read:
John 12:23-33
The walk of Christ – the fruit of sacrifice
Jesus knows that the road to God’s kingdom is paved with sacrifice. It is a sacrifice that He is prepared and ready to make. Without sacrifice our lives remain singular, but with sacrifice our lives bear fruit in the lives of many others.
Sacrifice is often something we want to avoid. Sacrifice hurts. Before the sacrifice is made the action appears final, it is hard to see beyond the sacrifice. Before the sacrifice our focus will be on the thing, the object, action, whatever it may be, that is about to be sacrifice. Do I have to sacrifice this? It is very difficult to see beyond the sacrifice. It is only after the sacrifice is made can we see the effects. It is done. It is gone. I can‟t go back now, but life begins to change now, in ways that would not have been possible before the sacrifice. We must sacrifice our wills to follow Christ‟s. We will sacrifice attitudes and values that have previously been the root of sinful behaviours, bitter feelings towards others, that have fueled our tempers, fed our worldly values. The things we sacrifice will cost us but will lead us to live and think differently. Jesus said “No, it is for this very reason I came…”
It is when we have trusted God to dig down through our lives and discover that the road that Jesus is on is really there. We have given him authority in our lives and realize this is really worth it; the sacrifice is glory to God. It is when we walk on this road of sacrifice we hear God‟s voice comforting us, assuring us, leading us to life.
Prayer:
Father,
May I learn to live sacrificially, so that I am willing to make every sacrifice you lead me to make. Help me to have open hands so my life can bring you glory. Help me not to hold on to the things, attitudes and values that have kept my life small. I ask that you begin to multiply your goodness in every area of my sacrifice. Amen.
Meditate:
John 12:49-50
―For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say."
“ask where the good way is,
and walk in it,”
Jer 6:16
Read:
John 12:23-33
The walk of Christ – the fruit of sacrifice
Sacrifice is often something we want to avoid. Sacrifice hurts. Before the sacrifice is made the action appears final, it is hard to see beyond the sacrifice. Before the sacrifice our focus will be on the thing, the object, action, whatever it may be, that is about to be sacrifice. Do I have to sacrifice this? It is very difficult to see beyond the sacrifice. It is only after the sacrifice is made can we see the effects. It is done. It is gone. I can‟t go back now, but life begins to change now, in ways that would not have been possible before the sacrifice. We must sacrifice our wills to follow Christ‟s. We will sacrifice attitudes and values that have previously been the root of sinful behaviours, bitter feelings towards others, that have fueled our tempers, fed our worldly values. The things we sacrifice will cost us but will lead us to live and think differently. Jesus said “No, it is for this very reason I came…”
It is when we have trusted God to dig down through our lives and discover that the road that Jesus is on is really there. We have given him authority in our lives and realize this is really worth it; the sacrifice is glory to God. It is when we walk on this road of sacrifice we hear God‟s voice comforting us, assuring us, leading us to life.
Prayer:
Father,
May I learn to live sacrificially, so that I am willing to make every sacrifice you lead me to make. Help me to have open hands so my life can bring you glory. Help me not to hold on to the things, attitudes and values that have kept my life small. I ask that you begin to multiply your goodness in every area of my sacrifice. Amen.
Meditate:
John 12:49-50
―For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say."
“ask where the good way is,
and walk in it,”
Jer 6:16
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