Advent a time of sacrifice

       Today’s word is sacrifice.  There are 2 reasons I chose this word even though it is not a word or action you would readily associate with Christmas and the coming of the savior.  Today is the anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  We remember the sacrifice of those who gave their lives in the defense of our country.  We remember them for their bravery, endurance and because they gave their lives for our sake.  We honor their memory today.

       Scripture tells us in Philippians 2:6-8 “Who, being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross!”   Have you ever considered what Jesus gave up to become a man.  He became a servant, had to take on human form, had to humble himself to come to earth and had to suffer a violent death.  Jesus did all of that for me so I could be cleansed of my sins and restored to relationship with Almighty God.   He sacrificed his place in heaven.  Many times in scripture we are told that Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven on a throne surrounded by glory and adoration.  He sacrificed his position of omnipotence and sovereignty, power and glory to come down to earth as a man.  He sacrificed his life on the cross so I could be forgiven and restored.  The Christmas manger is a place of sacrifice of the greatest proportion as God came down to earth to save us from our sins.

       What is your response to the sacrifice Jesus made?  Do you respond with faith or doubt?  Do you respond with appreciation or ambivalence?   Come today and humble yourself before God.  Thank Him for the sacrifices He made on your behalf.

Humbled by Jesus’ sacrifice.

Linda

The field of graves at Normandy, France another place of great sacrifice during WWII.