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Enjoy Life, Enjoy God


Dale Patterson

SACRIFICE

June 29, 2009

One understanding of sacrifice is the giving up of something, like a fatted calf. While the sacrifice we speak of is related to this, a losing of something, that's not the focus here.

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
- Hebrews 13:15,16 TNIV

Sacrifice. Not a giving up, not a silly, empty religious ritual, but a drinking in of God's grace and a speaking out of God's praise from our lips. That's the sacrifice Christ looks for. Ritual, doing mechanical religious acts--no substitute for how we live, and the place we put Christ in our real lives.

Such a sacrifice is not a giving up, but a giving out, a moment by moment reminder that Christ is our center, and by his grace we live, move and have our being. That's praise, and that's a sacrifice.
Joyfully,

Dale Patterson