What will I give up for the sake of the gospel?

Mark 8:35

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.

We are called to be disciple by God and as Christians how do we live our life? sacrifice is one of the cost or lifestyle of a Christian life, we sacrifice not in order to earn salvation, nor because sacrifice is intrinsically valuable, nor merely because it is demanded; instead, it is our free response to God's loving sacrifice towards us. We are to reflect Jesus character of sacrifice that reveals the way to live as the redeemed and loving children of God, but why does it characterize our discipleship so little? there are four main ways in which we have distorted our understanding of sacrifice.

a) Sacrifice using the wrong measure

b) Sacrifice only when compelled

c) Sacrifice with the wrong attitude

d) Sacrifice without cost

Let us remember that Jesus first sacrificed his life for us; we are ransomed from the futile ways inherited from our forefathers, not with perishable things such as gold or silver but with the precious blood of Christ. Let us sacrifice for the sake of the gospel out of love for God and His kingdom.