by Elsa Houtz
It doesn’t take much looking around to see that we live in a culture that avoids the idea of sacrifice. We don’t like to give up anything, especially if doing so might cause us discomfort or inconvenience, or deprive us of something we want.
I’m grateful that Lent gives me a chance to focus more intently on Christ’s sacrifice for me. It causes me to reflect on the agonizing decision He made in the garden, the inexpressible suffering He endured, and the total and perfect obedience He chose—all to save us from the death penalty of sin. My prayer is that by the time Lent gives way to Easter, I will have grown in my understanding of what His sacrifice means for me and how it needs to influence my daily life.
Meditation:
What am I willing to give up for Christ? To what extent am I willing to seek out and obey God’s will? What price am I willing to pay for obedience?
Romans 5:6,8—You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly….God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.