It's all about sacrifices...

I'm not a big fan of sacrifices.  Well, I am when they help prove my point in explaining a philosophical issue or it makes me look humble, but I'm not a fan when I'm constantly reminded of how much inconvenience this move to Wake Forest is bringing.

Well, God gives me this devotion, "Sacred Sacrifice" in my April 2010 Journey, today.  It starts off with Matthew 16:25:  "Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will find it."  Yes, God, I know this should be expected, but we haven't even moved to attend seminary yet, why are we having to go through this mess of having more and more against us (selling the house and possibility of renting it--yuck, selling Clint's truck and going down to one vehicle--ewww, saving every little penny even when I'm incredibly tired and the drive-thru line is calling my name--an abomination, etc.).  I understand that so many sacrifices will be expected of us later this year, but why now? 

In regard to Jesus asking that God would take away the terrible burden of His upcoming death (Mark 14:35-36), my devotion bluntly says that Jesus was honest about His feelings and made them known to God, but He did follow through.  To apply this lesson to our lives, it goes on:  "(God) asks us to die to doing our own thing and meeting our own needs and to live for meeting the needs of others...When you die to yourself, you might be inconvenienced, but you'll be more like Jesus."  Isn't that the goal?

Our inconveniences are to be expected.  Following God's will requires our own lives to fade away, to not matter.  Most importantly to me, God never gave a timetable of when the sacrificing would start.  We can't say, "God, can you put a stop order on these sacrifices and inconveniences in my life right now?" and expect Him to use us according to His amazing purpose.  This is ALL part of the journey. 

I confess that I have been trying to separate my pre-seminary life here in Georgia with my upcoming seminary life.  I feel God doesn't want me to see my life here as such a definitive end as I see it.  I constantly catch myself saying, "I'm over all this stuff here already!" or "Can we just make it to August?"  His purpose doesn't start in three months, it's ongoing, including the here and now.  So, God, just use me according to Your unimaginable and perfect will.  I may not like it, and You know I'll definitely let You know that.  I will obey though.