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- Apr 25, 2006
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Who's first?
'If anyone wants to be first' MARK 9:35
Sacrifice. A bit of an ugly word. It conjures up images of greasy metallers with stringy hair and black guitars performing carnage on a goat, live on stage. But the reality of the word couldn't be further away from that! Sacrifice is something beautiful. Think of the everyday heroes who bring beauty to the word: the single Mum who works two jobs to give her child a better future; the soldier on the frontline risking his life for the security of his country; the young person volunteering her time to clean up the local park. Beautiful heroic acts centred on this beautiful word:
Sacrifice. You see, when we put other people's needs before our own we end up connected to some very wise words first said over 2000 years ago, 'If anyone wants to be first, he must [put himself] last.' In God's kingdom, things are different. The least are considered the greatest (Luke 9:48). Jesus knew if you want to turn the world kingdom side up, it begins with a revolution of the self.
When we're able to help others rather than help ourselves, we begin to grasp the beauty of sacrifice. Jesus washed His disciples' feet before His own were cleaned. Sacrifice; Jesus gave up the five star luxuries of Heaven to live in poverty. Sacrifice; Jesus laid down his life so that others would gain theirs. Sacrifice; so, go on, do something beautiful today.
written by Bob Gass
'If anyone wants to be first' MARK 9:35
Sacrifice. A bit of an ugly word. It conjures up images of greasy metallers with stringy hair and black guitars performing carnage on a goat, live on stage. But the reality of the word couldn't be further away from that! Sacrifice is something beautiful. Think of the everyday heroes who bring beauty to the word: the single Mum who works two jobs to give her child a better future; the soldier on the frontline risking his life for the security of his country; the young person volunteering her time to clean up the local park. Beautiful heroic acts centred on this beautiful word:
Sacrifice. You see, when we put other people's needs before our own we end up connected to some very wise words first said over 2000 years ago, 'If anyone wants to be first, he must [put himself] last.' In God's kingdom, things are different. The least are considered the greatest (Luke 9:48). Jesus knew if you want to turn the world kingdom side up, it begins with a revolution of the self.
When we're able to help others rather than help ourselves, we begin to grasp the beauty of sacrifice. Jesus washed His disciples' feet before His own were cleaned. Sacrifice; Jesus gave up the five star luxuries of Heaven to live in poverty. Sacrifice; Jesus laid down his life so that others would gain theirs. Sacrifice; so, go on, do something beautiful today.
written by Bob Gass
