Great Sacrifice by Cheryl Williams

Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you have prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased.”

Then I said, “Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—I have come to do your will, my God. ”First, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law.

Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hebrews 10:5-10 NIV

Sacrifice – to suffer loss of, give up, renounce, injure, or destroy especially for an ideal, belief, or end.

We have all made some form of sacrifice in our lives. Whether it be for family, friends, work, ideals, or war. Some are small sacrifices, and some are huge. I’m reminded of my cousin, Kenny, who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country when he died in Vietnam at the age of 21.

My mom had breast cancer and suffered for many years until she passed away when she was 51. My aunt asked her one time, “Why did it have to be her?” Mom responded, “I’d rather it was me instead of one of my girls.” Hers was a feeling of sacrifice for her family.

Our greatest sacrifice is to God, which includes giving to the Lord whatever he requires of our time, our earthly possessions, and our energies to further his work. Jesus came to do his Father’s will. Through his death and resurrection, he has taken away the first covenant and established the second. Thanks be to God.

CHERYL WILLIAMS