What's your sacrifice?

An excerpt from a letter I recently wrote to someone whose life challenges me so much!

Dear  X,

"God gives us material for sacrifice.  Sometimes the sacrifice makes little sense to others, but when offered to Him it is always accepted."

I don't know if you remember reading this quote but it is from Elisabeth Elliot's Passion and Purity.  I always thought it meant in regards to purity and relationships but lately God has given me a new clarity of what it really means.  I thought it was so applicable to you that I had to write you and share it.  To some older Christians in the world I know you may think they see you as "strange" (sorry I didn't know what other verse to use and wanted to convey a point) because you aren't pursing marriage at this time.  While we both know it is something you'd love to have one day it isn't your focus.  You didn't go to college to get your MRS. degree and you aren't going about life constantly waiting for that moment.  I love that trait in you.  I love that God has worked in you and directed your heart and passions towards Him.  There is really no greater love than that and no greater expression of Christ himself.  If we are truly to become like Christ we must become like Him in all of our actions in such a way that everything we do and want reflects Him.  I was thinking of the verse John 15:13 today which says " greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends."  I used to think this verse was in regards to how we should treat others until I took it in context with the next verse "You are my friends if you do what I command" (John 15:14).  The verse isn't just in regards to how we treat others but rather in regards to how Christ has treated us and how we should treat Him.  I pray that your love for Christ becomes like this, that you are so in love with Him that you are willing to go wherever He leads.  I love that you have already stepped out in doing this.  That you are laying down your plans of what you thought your life would be for His plans for your life.  It is an encouragement for me to see that your love for Him goes before anything else in life. 

And the letter went on but in my heart I was so challenged by this person's love for God.  My prayer for all of us today is that we would use whatever material God has given us for sacrifice despite what others may think.  I pray that we remember in putting God first that it is always accepted by Him!!!