Sacrifice

Sacrifice

”Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus (Phillipians 2:3-5 NASB),…”

“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13 NASB).”

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship (Romans 12:1 NASB).”

Definition: Sacrifice - The offering of animal, plant, or human life or of some material possession to a deity, as in propitiation or homage; the person, animal, or thing so offered; the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim; the thing so surrendered or devoted; to make a sacrifice or offering of; to surrender or give up, or permit injury or disadvantage to, for the sake of something else (Dictionary.com). 

In sacrifice we lay aside our wants and needs for the purpose of elevating others. This elevation can be situational or a lifestyle; when we lift others in aide and encouragement we honor God. Real, true sacrifice is rare. When we really give sacrificially we: give up time until we become inconvenienced; we give up desires so those of another can be met; we give up resources until the ability to meet personal needs is questioned; we give up personal security to aid others who are in trouble or who are in dangerous places; we may also give up life to save life – we don’t wait until we have extra to give, we give in a time of need and we give until it hurts.

We surrender this baby and pregnancy to You and Your will, and thank You for Your help and blessings. If anyone sacrifices something for our child, we pray our baby will be grateful. May gratefulness and sacrifice be part of our lifestyle, not just in consideration, but in action, until our child receives and recognizes the habit and in turn behaves responsibly in gratefulness, and responsively to pass on and share with others even until it hurts.