SACRIFICE

Snippet

The Spirit does not take His pupils beyond the cross, but ever more deeply into it.

J. Knox Chamblin  Paul and the Self: Apostolic Teaching for Personal Wholeness, Baker, 1993, p. 117.

Scripture

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:  Philippians 2:1-5

Song

Sacrifice Lecrae

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDfMjb0May0

My eyes redder than blood shots, nightmares of them gunshots

I took my girl from the lone star to Memphis, Tenn on them cold blocks

And what you think we moved for, to see kids get killed in the school zone

To see crack get sold, bodies turned cold, what do you think, I think that's cool, bro?

And why do you think I went to school for? To turn around and move back to the hood?

Nah, boy, that's what it's called a sacrifice, this is bigger than me, it's for a greater good.

I was went to cape town, had a breakdown, Mozambique seen a man face down

Took blows to the head, boy it's cold out here so we're staying on the grind, no brakes (breaks), nah nah.

If this a gimmick then explain what's the incentive

Been extorted near deported for this faith I'm representing.

And when I started penin' lyrics I wasn't thinkin bout no cypher

I was thinking about them addicts and them juvies and them lifers.

Well this is what the people lose they life for. And why they give up all they rights for.

It ain't no church in the wild, huh? But tell me, who you think I write for?

And I ain't tryin' to be self righteous, but I write this if you think twice

Folks wanna call this gospel rap. Nah, homeboy, this sacrifice.

Some of these rapper's reputations should be in dispute

Cause real recognize real and you do not compute

Good as layin your life down, sacrifice for a worthy cause

Not for a buncha green paper stacks, overpriced clothes and shiny cars, no.

This is sacrifice, it's givin' your all.

Even when they don't understand you, you still answer your calling

And when the world is falling and they back is turned,

You reach your hand out and pull them out that fiery furnace.

I learned that from the old heads, you know the ones that never turned back

Martin Luther King got shot for it, that's priceless you can't earn that.

Then tell me what do you think he died for? A peace prize? A holiday?

So I can rap a whole bunch of weak lines about how I'm a make my choppers spray (Huh!?)

If Jesus really lived, then He really died

Sacrificed Himself and rose before their very eyes

And if I ain't really changed, then it's all a lie

Why put my life on the line, mang this ain't worth my time

Cause it's been real, when nobody knew us we been here

Before the billboards and the Grammy awards

It was Christ, homeboy we've been clear.

I ain't never been fake bout faith, if I lied to your face

May I die a disgrace

Live for the truth that He died in my place

Thank God for the sacrifice and His grace. (Uh!)

Sentence Prayer

Jesus

May your Holy Spirit lead us ever deeper into a life of sacrifice.

May we slowly learn to be a living sacrifice that points the way home

May we learn to live with the mindset of Christ.

Amen