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7/29/01 Past/Future Articles |
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7/29/01 Past/Future Articles |
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How long has it been since you have seen someone truly make a sacrifice or (bringing it closer to home) have you made one? (To suffer loss of or give up.) There are many and varied reasons why we might deny ourselves and put others welfare before our own. Most will sacrifice for their families, some for their friends, and maybe a few for their enemies.
First, let us talk about our families. It isn't too difficult to sacrifice here for the love is, or should be, very great. In fact, our care and concern is so magnified, it doesn't even seem as a sacrifice. For we will go from dawn to dusk to do all within our power to give our families the desired needs of life. This is in harmony with God's word as we are commanded to care for our own. (I Timothy 5:8)
Next are our friends or neighbors. Here, too, is a commandment (Mark 12:31) we do without much difficulty. We are willing to help in times of hardship and work to restore a normalcy of life if at all possible.
Third comes a hard saying that we love our enemies as ourselves. (Matthew 5:44) Here is the testing ground. Here is the trying of our faith. Here separates the child of God and the person of the world. However, we have the perfect example in Romans 5:8. We are told, "God commanded His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Therefore, the greatest sacrifice of all is when we are willing to put the good of our enemies before our own. Truly this is following the Master's Plan. So let us strive to be more Christ-like. Sacrificing for the cause of Christ and God will bless us. Are you walking in the King's Highway???
Walter M. Bishop, Elder