No Greater Sacrifice

 By: Joanne Viola

 

This past week was Ash Wednesday, and the start of Lent.

Lent – the season of giving up, of sacrifice.

As the days approached, nothing was on my heart to give up. And so, I decided to give up on giving up.

Over the forty days of Lent, I want to solely focus on Jesus and His sacrifice.

I was reminded of an encounter Jesus had one day while traveling.

A young man approached Jesus and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus responds, pretty much, by telling him he must not break the ten commandments.

The young man responds, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” And here is where it gets even more interesting …

“Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, 
“One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 
But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving,
for he was one who owned much property.”
(Mark 10: 21-22, NASB) 

This story is truly not solely about the riches. It is about loving God wholeheartedly. Much like the rich, young ruler, we all tend to think we already love God with all our heart. We may not even realize other things have wiggled their way into our lives, and won over our affections.

This story brings the much needed reminder that we should not permit anything to come before God. God requires the removal of anything we may place before or above Him. He insists we remove idols, reign in our longings, and give Him the place in our hearts reserved for Him alone.

The young ruler came with transparency, sincerely asking Jesus what he needed to do to acquire eternal life. He desired the spiritual, he wanted Jesus. Yet he walked away.

Jesus is the only one who truly sacrificed His all so that, we are able to gain it all.
He sacrificed so that we gain salvation, peace, and joy in this life,
and eternal life with Him.

 

 

Reflection:

What will you do to reflect on Jesus over these forty days?

 

 

Image by Sebastian Ganso from Pixabay