BLOGGING TOWARD SUNDAY…

In his recent book titled The Jesus Way: A Conversation on the Ways Jesus is the Way, Eugene Petersen (translator of The Message) hit me between the eyes so many times that I emerged bruised and bloody! The worst punishment came from the chapter on sacrifice, which centers on Abraham and the binding of Isaac, often referred to as the Akedah.

Petersen makes the following observation, new to me, but since I read it, it has dominated my thoughts:
A sacrificial life is the means, and the only means, by which a life of faith matures. By increments a sacrifical life — an altar here, an altar there — comes to permeate every detail of life: parenthood, marriage, friendship, work, gardening, reading a book, climbing a mountain…. Sacrifice is to faith what eating is to nutrition; it is the action that we engage in that is transformed within ourselves invisibly and unobserved into a life lived in responsive obedience to the living God who gives himself to and for us, sacrifices himself for us. (Petersen, The Jesus Way)

If Petersen is right, and my conscience tells me that he is, then some radical change needs to take place in my life…now. How about yours?

I’m going to be tackling this idea in Sunday’s sermon. You won’t want to miss it. Blessings…sk

Filed under: Blogging Toward Sunday