What Lies Ahead: Sacrifice

Sacrifice

Matthew 5:1–12 CEB

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up a mountain. He sat down and his disciples came to him. He taught them, saying: “Happy are people who are hopeless, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs. “Happy are people who grieve, because they will be made glad. “Happy are people who are humble, because they will inherit the earth. “Happy are people who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, because they will be fed until they are full. “Happy are people who show mercy, because they will receive mercy. “Happy are people who have pure hearts, because they will see God. “Happy are people who make peace, because they will be called God’s children. “Happy are people whose lives are harassed because they are righteous, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs. “Happy are you when people insult you and harass you and speak all kinds of bad and false things about you, all because of me. Be full of joy and be glad, because you have a great reward in heaven. In the same way, people harassed the prophets who came before you.

It’s All Saints Day and we remember the sacrifice that those who came before us gave so that we might have faith.

The character of their faith

The way they lived out the Beatitudes

Our Faith will ask us to make sacrifices

For our own faith

For the faith of others

For the building of the Kingdom of God

Our Church will make sacrifices

We don’t know yet what all they will be but we know that they will be intentionally aligned with the direction of the will of God.