We are all making sacrifices right now whether we want to or not. Things we take for granted are out of reach. Simple things like social gatherings and going to work. Some of these things may be permanently lost or altered. Everyone is struggling a bit save Amazon.
On a personal level, we have an 18-year old in our house who was having great senior year. We were proud. Everything is hold now like the rest of the world. The final year of high school is a fixed time and place and you cannot get a do over. This does not even speak to the whole college preparation process.
My students are experiencing sacrifice as well. Graduation is cancelled. Study abroad opportunities gone.
Granted, these pale in comparison to those who are ill or have loved ones who are ill. Or those who have lost dear friends and family. I have friends who tested positive as some of you may have.
So, sacrifice has been on my mind as I am sure it is on yours. Good Friday is a blessed time to put all of this in perspective. We should seek to understand the nature of God's sacrifice. Our sacrifice is involuntary. Not of our own choosing. Jesus willingly sacrificed His life for our eternal destiny in a spiritual conflict. And I also consider what the disciples sacrificed as I read their accounts the gospel. We know how the story ends but consider the emotions they had to work through. Lest we forget the family and friends of Jesus.
One of the greatest things God can give us is perspective. I would say pray for ti like Solomon prayed for wisdom, but perspective is such a critical component of wisdom. I am thankful for this day and the gift of perspective.
Good evening Professor Sullivan,
Thank you for this devotional. I agree that there has been a lot of involuntary sacrifice during this hard time. However, there is comfort in knowing that the whole world is going through it together. This time shall pass. We all just have to keep faith in the Lord and continue keeping each other in our prayers.
Yes, because of 2019-nCov, many people lost some opportunity to do the plans and I also lost the chance to go back to my home country. It usually makes me have homesick, but the reality is cruel.
we have to know complaining doesn't solve anything, so how to have a level head to solve the problem is what we should learn.
NO complaining and try to have a good mind to adapt to the current society.
I feel so sad for college and high school seniors alike in this time. I'm such a sentimental person, so it makes me sad to think that all their "lasts" aren't going to happen and they can't walk at graduation.
Thank you for sharing this! This lifted my spirits. Its easy to give in to the worry and concern, but remembering the sacrifice that God has made for us surpasses all of our present circumstances. James says that our life is but a mist, here one moment and gone the next. What will we do with it?
Thank you so much for this post, It was so encouraging and exactly what everyone needs to hear right about now. We are all so focused on what we are giving up when that is our wordly mindset telling us we need all of the things that have been taken away. We should focus on the lord during this time and growing our relationship with him.