We were discussing Paul's (Paul, right? See what I'm saying? I don't know the Bible) teachings to the Hebrews in Sunday School and I had something of an epiphany.
My Patriarchal blessing talks specifically about Hebrews chapter 11 which is an entire chapter about faith. Good old faith. Why is this the hardest principle for me to comprehend? Perhaps it has something to do with the complexity of the subject.
But, I digress...
I've read chapter 11 countless times. I've tried to understand it and apply it to my life. The result has been something akin to: "So... faith." Nothing more. Nothing less. In and of itself, this is a good lesson, n'est-ce pas? But there is more to it than that (obvi)!
The chapters that precede ch11 contain Paul's teachings to a Jewish (converted to Christianity) nation whose roots were so tightly wrapped around the Law of Moses that they struggled to understand that Christ's sacrifice replaced the tradition of blood sacrifices.
Oh, to actually know the history of the bible!
This led me to ponder the relationship between sacrifice and faith. Is there faith without sacrifice? Is there sacrifice without faith? Turns out? They are in a seriously committed relationship! Like, goin'-to-the-chapel-and-gonna-get-married kind of relationship.
I tried to think of an instance wherein sacrifice occurred without faith and vica versa. I couldn't think of any. So, is it safe to say they are mutually exclusive?
Either way, I took a look at my life, at the things the Lord has asked me to sacrifice (hello, 33 and single!) and I think I get what the Lord is trying to tell me ("hey, kid! you're gonna need some faith!")
I think there is more to it that this but I'm still trying to wrap my head around it. Thoughts?
This is so good. Faith is so ingrained in my life but so elusive in how to build it, understand it, trace it... It's an enigma. But I agree with you that sacrifice is inevitably intertwined with it. I was thinking it takes sacrifice BEFORE having faith. But then, like many gospel principles, it takes faith to be able to sacrifice.
ReplyDeleteI love the way you put these two principles in a relationship!