Essay turned contemplation.

Written for English II Honors...

J'aime ma Bible (I like my Bible)

With a value that cannot be measured in numbers, words, or by any other means, my Bible is my most prized possession. My Bible has been a constant source of companionship, wisdom, and promises for years. Over the course of its history, it has taught, comforted, rebuked and connected many experiences and people, helping me to steadily grow in my faith.

The life of my Bible began eight years ago, when it was purchased from a local Christian book store. A gift from my parents, it was presented to me with my name engraved in the bottom right corner. Since then, it has traveled all over the country, from Key West to Anchorage, Alaska. Its worn pages have been thumbed through on mission trips to South Tampa and Georgia, endlessly revealing new facets of faith and love. Beginning in grade school and continuing through my high school years, Sunday school and academic teachers alike have taught me to understand and apply the messages and models found throughout the gold-trimmed pages. Every day, my Bible's pages are turned, highlighted, and filled with post-it notes to mark new lessons and experiences. A constant companion, my Bible has helped me, and others, teach the Word to those around us.

As the years have gone on, my Bible has come to mean more and more. Through many trials and many cheers, my Bible has remained a symbol of my ever-strengthening faith. Its passages and promises have given root to tremendous spiritual growth and freshly revealed knowledge. From personal experience, discovery, and achievement, the pages of my Bible have been filled with notes, dates, and reminders of hardships overcome. Its thin, fingerprinted pages and colorfully tabbed paragraphs have always been a steadfast source of comfort and encouragement, from the lowest points in life to the most joyous. Most of all, throughout the eight years I have owned my Bible, it has shown me the many magnificent ways that I am loved, deeply and unconditionally, and has continually reassured me of this fact.

Without the companionship, wisdom, and promises found in my Bible, my faith would not be at the point it is now, and I would not be the person I am today. The immeasurable worth found in my Bible can never be matched or exceeded by another object. My Bible will forever and always remain my most prized possession, and be a firm foundation for my faith.

Sacrifice

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God- this is your spiritual act of worship.

Romans 12:1

What is a sacrifice?

Why do we sacrifice?

What does a sacrifice mean?

The dictionary definition of a sacrifice is to endure the loss of something; or to lose or surrender something as a penalty for a mistake or fault or failure to perform, etc. But for me, sacrifice has a deeper meaning. A sacrifice is something given up in order to strengthen and deepen my faith and love for my Saviour. For others, sacrifice means simply pain or discomfort; for others still, it is punishment or loss.

A sacrifice can be small or large, insignificant or life-changing. Something as small as giving up a social network for a period of time can seem as drastic as giving up a home or car for some people. Still others think nothing of losing the comforts that we, as Americans, deem necessary: air conditioning, cars, beds, indoor plumbing- all is given up to serve the Father. These are the men and women who reach people for Christ, because of their willingness to step outside their comfort zone, whether in minute or enormous ways, and place themselves, without hesitation or complaint, in the midst of poverty and danger.

When we fall into the arms of Christ and begin to experience and better understand His incredible love, we begin to see the magnitude of the sacrifice He made for us. The One and Only, Sinless, Perfect Lamb laid down His life for us- sinful, dirty, stained sinners who have rejected and denied Him in every way we know how. When we grasp the amazing love displayed for us, we can begin to see how little the comforts of our daily lives matter. In Matthew 8:20, Jesus says that "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." Even while He was preaching and living among us, Christ was sacrificing for us, giving up the basic need of a home to reach His children and show us His love! When we learn to truly appreciate this and are adequately thankful to Him, no price seems too high to pay for our Saviour. We must be sold out for Christ, and must understand that He deserves our entire life for what He did for us. He paid the ultimate price, because of His overwhelming love for us. This is why we sacrifice.

A sacrifice is a symbol of our love for our Lord. When we sacrifice things in our lives for Him, we are given the opportunity to give Him the extra time, money or resources that we gain from what we have given up.We are given the chance to grow closer and become better acquainted with the God of the Universe- an intimate relationship with our Creator, who loves us, His masterpieces, more dearly than we could ever imagine. He is jealous for our attention! Why don't we take our focus off of petty, worldly objects that will fade away like brief breaths, and turn our eyes and hearts and minds to the Father, who gave us life?

"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise- the fruit of lips that confess His name."

Hebrews 13:15