humility ~ service ~ SACRIFICE ~ hope

Christmas celebrations are over and the family has gone home, life has returned to normal and normal feels lonely. There are still desserts and treats hanging around that weren’t consumed. And cheese, lots of cheese. Just last week the house was ringing with laughter and games, dance parties led by our 4-year-old grandson and delicious smells of food wafting through the air. Discarded wrapping paper that lay in mounds on the floor has now been thrown in the garbage and every crumb has been wiped away.

The only thing left is Advent.

The spirit of Advent isn’t over

How much did you spend on Christmas this year, ballpark? The question doesn’t seem to align with Advent. But I realize I’ve been thinking about it all wrong, Advent doesn’t end with Christmas dinner.

According to some studies, projections showed that the average North American family was going to spend approximately $1638 in 2024 on Christmas including gifts, travel and entertainment. When you compare that to the global median per-capita annual household income of $2920 something seems off.

Most of us just spent the equivalent of half an annual wage for the majority of the world’s population, and we spent it on one holiday. Piled up bills and credit card statements bear witness to our indulgences. No wonder we want to rush away from Advent as soon as the turkey is cold.

The only lasting thing about Christmas is Jesus. The Advent. The beginning of something very special, sacred and unbelievably holy. The dawn of suffering and sacrifice that would change the trajectory of the world and eternity from that point on.

Advent illuminates sacrifice

As I reflect on Christmas 2024, I’m humbled by the shadow of the cross that fell over the simple scene that unfolded in Bethlehem. I am humbled by the ultimate price that was paid for our salvation, Jesus sacrificing his position in the heavenly realms for a lowly manger. He gave up all glory and honor and power to become flesh and blood for only one ultimate purpose, to bridge the gap between sinful humanity and a Holy God so that we could fellowship together without barriers for eternity.

sacrifice is the Advent of reconciliation

We see the plan of reconciliation and salvation unfolding all the way back in Genesis chapter 1 of the Bible. So if God sent his son Jesus as the ultimate portrayal of selflessness and sacrifice, and I call myself a Christian ~ a Christ follower ~ what is my part in this grand plan for humanity? It doesn’t seem right to grab my free gift of salvation like I would a store coupon and promptly forget about it.

Our salvation cost the Lord his life. He willingly laid down his life knowing full well that many would never believe in him, knowing many would never thank him for what he had done. Knowing many would never accept the gift of salvation and come to him to satisfy the longings in their hearts that only he could fill.

sacrifice looks like this

Sacrifice is messy. It’s in a ditch helping pull someone out. It’s in a checkout line at the grocery store when someone is short a few dollars. It’s being kind in the face of anger or unjust accusations. It’s spending your down time resolving someone else’s challenge. It’s hope for the disillusioned. It’s sharing wisdom and expertise knowing you won’t get credit for it. It’s encouraging someone whose hardships eclipse your own. It’s forgiveness when you’ve been wronged. It’s waiting on the Lord’s will for your life to unfold when it looks very different than what you expected.

Maybe you haven’t been appreciated this past year at home, at work, at school, with friends and family. You know how it feels to give your all and for no one to acknowledge what you did. It was worth it anyway! Do you hear me? It was worth it simply because it cost you something and you sacrificed yourself in an effort to help others.

Romans 12:1 encourages us to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God which is an outward act of spiritual worship that we offer to him. Sacrifice costs us our ego, pride, selfishness, unfair judgements, time, money, entitlements. Living sacrificially honors the ultimate price Christ paid for us.

As we start 2025 I pray that we would be filled with the courage to live a life of sacrifice. I pray that our eyes and ears would be open, our hands and feet ready to quickly respond to the needs of those around, all to the glory of God.

Blessings xo