The 12 Ways of Christmas..Part 2 SACRIFICE

In the book "The 12 Ways of Christmas" by Dr. David Jeremiah the second chapter talks about Sacrifice.

What does sacrifice mean? It means to give another person something we could have kept for ourselves. To choose, to deny, to love, to give and to find the deepest pleasure in another's joy.

The heart of the true Christmas story is sacrifice. I love how Dr. Jeremiah puts this. "Even if God had more than one Son to give up for the sake of His sin-stained creation, to give even one would have been a sacrifice. But to send His only Son from the glory of heaven to the grind of earth, knowing what would befall Him while He was here - that's sacrifice".

Dr. Jeremiah tells of a story where a married couple discover that love and sacrifice are synonyms, the the deeper the cost of giving, the deeper the experience of love and joy.

TO PONDER: How can we show the gift of sacrifice this season? I don't think its through emptying our wallets out of guilt. But rather it could sacrificing our time to spend with others. Look around you is there someone you can bless this season. Maybe its buying a gift for someone else rather then yourself or on that new decoration. Do you know of a student who doesn't get to go home this season or an elderly person who is celebrating this Christmas by themselves for the first time since losing their spouse? I know for me its to stop looking at me and my shopping list and around those that are right outside my door or in the next room at work. Lets slow down and see who we can help and bless and experience that ultimate joy of the season...sacrifice.