Sacrifice Makes You Stronger

I sat down to write this morning with this idea of sacrifice on my mind, then as I wrote the date down I realized just how perfect the day was to write about this very topic. A good number of us remember the day of 9/11 all too well. It is etched in our minds like those that lived through the World Wars and Great Depression. Many can recall exactly what they were doing and where they were when this happened 22 years ago. However, as I think about this topic now in the context of 9/11 it saddens me to think of how strong we once were as a country, how much stronger we each became as individuals, and then how quickly this faded from our minds and allowed us to slip back into a complacent state of mind. There was once a time when no one would start their day on 9/11 without thinking about that day, but now as I open up Google (known for their doodles) they do not even have anything there to mark this day.

See, when I think of sacrifice, 9/11 and other major events I reflect on those that sacrificed for me. I think about those sacrifices/changes I made as a result of what happened. Then when I think about those changes it forces me to think about and keep going, to keep remembrance of those changes and to keep them in effect. As usual, I bring this back to some basic Biblical teaching. As you look at the Israelite people throughout the eras of the Kings you see them constantly bounce back and forth between following God and not following, to the point that they eventually stopped following. They forgot the altars that their forefathers setup to remember the sacrifices. Whether it be the wells of Jacob or the alters of Abraham or any other, often times they forgot the sacrifices made to God that brought the blessings down from heaven.

So, why does this happen, why do we so easily forget. It starts with how hard was the sacrifice. If you grew up in poverty or some difficult circumstances you learned what it was like to watch what you spend, save what you could and learn to live within your means. But if you grew up without that worry, chances are you don’t think about it now and when you suddenly find yourself 20,30,40 thousand in debt you wonder how that happened. Well, you never had to sacrifice in the first place, so you never had to live through the pain. Just like the Isrealites that forgot where they came from, I'm sure there were some grandparents or parents at one point that learned this way, but once they got comfortable and things were going well, they forgot to teach those ones to follow the path to blessings and peace.

When I think about 9/11, there were a number of people that saw the impact happen, watched it on the news, etc. But few that were closely connected to someone that went into that building on the day. Or maybe a son/daughter that went to war in the days and years to follow as a result of the action. See those that were close, those that fought had a real sacrifice. They remember the day. Post-9/11 church houses filled, people turned to God, but as things got back to “normal” those churches quickly went back to normal, people went back to their normal rest day routines and never really drew closer to God through it all. As a result their kids never drew closer and we as a country never drew closer. The sacrifice for some was just not hard enough to etch the memory and keep the needed sacrifice they once made.

If the sacrifice wasn’t hard, then chances are the change was not real. Change comes when sacrifice is made. Change is needed to drive necessary actions in our lives. Remembering the sacrifice and then tying the change to it will make it stick. When I got saved a the age of 26, God got a hold of my heart, helped me to realize the price his son paid on the cross for me and made a change in my life that really can only be explained by God himself. Since that day I can say the change has stuck. Partly because I know the Holy Spirit lives in me, but all because I accepted God’s gift of Salvation. Sure there are days when I want to sleep in, when I want to do something else when I’m committed to doing something at the church, but Christ’s sacrifice keeps me going. The change was real in my life and the sacrifice Christ made changed me inside and out.

9/11 is a day to remember the sacrifice of those that died defending us after that horrific day and those that died as a result of the attack. Sacrifice comes to all of us in different ways. Beyond 9/11 you may have to sacrifice in some areas of your life to achieve growth in your life, they may just be for a season, but I imagine they will make an everlasting impact on your life, if the sacrifice is hard and the changes are real. Here are a few areas where you can think about the sacrifice you could make, maybe you have a few others.

1. Physical health: What are the changes you need to make here? It could be changing the way you eat, changing your level of activity, or changing your attitude towards stresses in your life. What can you do today to get strong tomorrow.

2. Financial Health: If you are living paycheck to paycheck or maybe you are just preparing for upcoming retirement or a future financial change (new child, etc.). What do you need to sacrifice now to make better decisions for the future? Maybe you need to switch jobs, tighten up your budget, or take on more work. Whatever it may be, it may be for a season, which could be 6-months, 12-months or longer. Are you willing to make the changes now to get past the hardships and prepare for the future.

3. Career Health: Are you happy with where you are in your career? Maybe you are maybe you aren’t, but what changes can you make today to prepare for where you want to go. Whether it is just taking on more responsibility or finding something new. It is time to make the change necessary to get you on that path. Don’t wait, start something, pick up a book or set aside some time for training or meeting with others. It is time to sacrifice, put in the work and get to where you want to go.

What are some sacrifices you are ready to make? If you like, share them below, I’d love to hear about some of your sacrifices and what you are doing to make them stick or change your future. Don't forget to teach your kids your sacrifices and the lessons you have learned. If there is one thing you can learn is that we can learn a vast amount from those that have gone before us.