Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.  Matthew 10:29

Sacrifices are made every day for the sake of the people we love.  For the sake of a mother, we give up our schedule for a year to care for her after heart surgery.  For the sake of our children, we go back to work to put them in private schools.  For the sake of our husband’s happiness, we move to another state.  Love constrains us to lay down what we treasure.  Now, if we were asked by someone we didn’t know to clear our calendar, go back to work, or move out of state, we would shrug off the outrageous request. The relationship is missing.

I just thought of something, and it’s bizarre.  We invoke the name of Pete in a stray conversation. “For Pete’s sake, why did you do that?”   Whatever the person did or didn’t do, Pete wasn’t even considered.  Cliches are interesting. 

When Jesus calls us to uncompromising discipleship, He makes it clear that sacrifices will have to be made ‘for His sake.’  For what other reason would we be willing to lose our life?  Only for Jesus.  

It causes me to look at my obedience today.  What am I doing out of moral habit?  What am I doing out of peer pressure?  What am I doing out of sheer grit because ‘scripture commands it.’  All of these reasons are hollow.  If the sacrifice is large enough, I will get angry.  If it isn’t love that constrains me, I will become an embittered older woman.  

For each difficult act of obedience, I sense the question.  “For my sake, Christine, will you do it?” Everything gets simple after that.   

Drudgery dissipates.  Resentment melts.  Joyful willingness wells up in my heart.  Yes, Jesus. Yes!  Amen