For Faith

SACRIFICE
June 26, 2020
Authentic life with God includes sacrifice. That's what we learn in the Abraham story and again with Jesus. In fact, we do grotesque things to God, our souls, and to our common life when we attempt to engineer life without sacrifice. Sacrifice is the denying or destroying of something to fulfill a holy purpose. Sacrifice is a conscious and gut-wrenching choice. It's attended by all kinds of loss. Sacrifice acknowledges that we are not the center of the circle. But holy sacrifice produces energy, clarity, humility, power, even partners. It's the remedy for bifurcation and immobilization. Sacrifice saves us from being tepid. What have you rejected or destroyed just to join Jesus in his holy purposes? The worst abuses of the power of faith happen when we think God does not require the sacrifice of our duplicity, bigotry, and indifference. What Abraham learns in his testing moment is that everything is second to God for him. Everything. Others would join Abraham. Moses sacrificed his comfortable middle-class living to return to Egypt and be a deliverer. Mary sacrificed her reputation to welcome Jesus to her womb. Joseph sacrificed his hopes for a regular marriage to keep Mary and Jesus safe. Paul sacrificed his animosity to become a road sign for redemption. Lydia sacrificed her wealth and business connections to fund the fledgling church. The antidote to the virus of hate in all its forms isn't ultimately a new program of the government or the church, it's people being willing to sacrifice their ideologies and reputations for God. Moses sacrificed his comfortable middle-class living to return to Egypt and be a deliverer. Mary sacrificed her reputation to welcome Jesus to her womb. Joseph sacrificed his hopes for a regular marriage to keep Mary and Jesus safe. Paul sacrificed his animosity to become a road sign for redemption. Lydia sacrificed her wealth and business connections to fund the fledgling church. The antidote to the virus of hate in all its forms isn't ultimately a new program of the government or the church, it's people being willing to sacrifice their ideologies and reputations for God. Moses sacrificed his comfortable middle-class living to return to Egypt and be a deliverer. Mary sacrificed her reputation to welcome Jesus to her womb. Joseph sacrificed his hopes for a regular marriage to keep Mary and Jesus safe. Paul sacrificed his animosity to become a road sign for redemption. Lydia sacrificed her wealth and business connections to fund the fledgling church. The antidote to the virus of hate in all its forms isn't ultimately a new program of the government or the church, it's people being willing to sacrifice their ideologies and reputations for God. Lydia sacrificed her wealth and business connections to fund the fledgling church. The antidote to the virus of hate in all its forms isn't ultimately a new program of the government or the church, it's people being willing to sacrifice their ideologies and reputations for God. Lydia sacrificed her wealth and business connections to fund the fledgling church. The antidote to the virus of hate in all its forms isn't ultimately a new program of the government or the church, it's people being willing to sacrifice their ideologies and reputations for God.

For People with Bishop Rob Wright

The new podcast expands on Bishop's For Faith devotional, drawing inspiration from the life of Jesus to answer 21st-century questions.

"Sacrifice"

Authentic life with God includes sacrifice. That is what we learn in the story of Abraham and again with Jesus. In fact, we do grotesque things to God, to our souls, and to our common life when we try to handle life without sacrifice. Sacrifice is denying or destroying something to fulfill a sacred purpose. Sacrifice is a conscious and heartbreaking decision. It is assisted by all kinds of loss. Sacrifice recognizes that we are not the center of the circle. But the sacred sacrifice produces energy, clarity, humility, power, even companionship. It is the remedy for bifurcation and immobilization. Sacrifice saves us from being lukewarm. What have you rejected or destroyed just to join Jesus in his holy purposes? The worst abuses of the power of faith occur when we think that God does not require the sacrifice of our duplicity, bigotry and indifference. What Abraham learns in his time of trial is that for him everything comes after God. Everything. Others would join Abraham. Moses sacrificed his comfortable middle-class life to return to Egypt and be a deliverer. Mary sacrificed her reputation to receive Jesus in her womb. Jose sacrificed his hopes for a regular marriage to keep Mary and Jesus safe. Paul sacrificed his animosity to become a road sign for redemption. Lidia sacrificed her wealth and business connections to finance the new church. The antidote to the hate virus in all its forms is not,