Sacrifice

 

  I recently began rereading the book of Leviticus which is near the beginning of the Old Testament in the Bible.  Leviticus has 27 chapters, and is filled with a variety of different types of texts.  There are laws, rules and regulations for various religious practices, and other things as well.  When reading chapter 1 we are faced with the stark reality of animal sacrifice which God's people, Israel, practiced with the belief that every animal sacrificed paid for sins committed.
  While our modern sensitivities may be offended by the idea of animal sacrifice, we continue, even today, to honor the idea and practice of sacrifice.  When we see professional athletes who have worked extremely hard to get to the highest level of competition in their sport, we recognize sacrifice.  When we see leaders in the business world who have achieved great things through a company they have started, we recognize sacrifice.  When we see artists and scientists and entrepreneurs and others who have made something, discovered something, created something, we recognize sacrifice. 
  Sacrifice is simply the practice of giving one thing up in order to get something that we deem greater than what we already have.   For the people of ancient Israel, the animal was a small price to pay for right relationship with God.  For any of the other examples I mentioned (leaders, artists, etc.) their time, commitment, practice and hard work was the price they paid to achieve.
  The question we ought to ask ourselves is: 'what is the most important thing to me?'  And if we can answer that question, the next one is: 'what am I willing to sacrifice to get that thing?'
  Well, it should come as no surprise that having started this post with the Bible, I would round out this reflection with the Bible as well.  According to the New Testament God sacrificed himself in order to pay the debt which humanity could not pay.  That means that God believed wholeheartedly that humanity was worth saving, it was God's highest good above simply enjoying himself, or starting over.  God decided that the most important thing was redeeming what He made so that He could reunite with us in relationship. 
  God prioritized you and me.  God loves you and me.  God sacrificed himself for you and me.
  That is how much God values you and me.
  In the life and death and resurrection of Jesus I recognize sacrifice. 
  And in the life and death and resurrection of Jesus I recognize both the cause and the fruit of sacrifice - love.  Thank you Jesus.  Thank you for your love.