Week 1 – PRONOUNCEMENT:
For The Sake of Something Greater
– Jeremy Hartshorn
Darth Vader tossing the Emperor over the rail.
Spock dying of radiation poisoning.
The Terminator lowering himself into molten lava.
When I think about my favorite movies, these scenes are the moments that stick with me the most. Their common theme of self-sacrifice resonates deep within my soul.
The ultimate example of this – the source material from which all these other stories are derived – is the life and death of Jesus Christ.
Jesus predicted His death in this pronouncement:
“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” John 12:24-25 (NIV)
He knew what was coming. He knew He’d have to give His life in order for us to live.
We strive to emulate Jesus. We are called to sacrifice ourselves and to lay down our lives for others, just as He did…
But let’s face it. Most of us probably will die of natural causes.
It is highly unlikely that any of us will be crucified, beheaded, fed to lions, etc. (although it’s worth noting that, in certain parts of the world, this is still a real possibility).
So, what does that look like for us? How are we to “give our lives” for something greater?
Perhaps it’s something as simple as turning off the screen, or stopping what you’re doing long enough to make sure your child knows she is loved.
Maybe it means saying “no” to frivolous spending or that one TV show you know you shouldn’t be watching.
Perhaps it’s giving up that lifelong habit that you know is destructive. Maybe it means becoming accountable to someone, letting them see the failure you’ve been so desperate to hide.
Maybe it’s something bigger… like forgiving father, mother, spouse, friend or enemy… again. Maybe it means staying in the marriage, even though you have every reason to leave.
Maybe it’s letting go of the dreams and aspirations you have for yourself in order to make room for the plans God has for you.
Maybe it’s… fill in the blank.
In these ways and many others we have yet to discover, may we learn to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of something greater.
Lord, help me to let the tyranny of the flesh wither and die so that it can be replaced by the life and purpose that only can be found in You. For the sake of my family. For the sake of my friends. For the sake of my soul. For Your name’s sake.
Amen