When you take the time to look over your shoulder and see how far you’ve come, you can’t help but be grateful for the sacrifices of those that have come before you.
And as I look over my shoulder, I can’t help but recognize that my life is because of the many sacrifices my parents have done. Sacrifices that I can put my finger on and many more that I will never know about.
It is impossible for me to go a single day without finding one thing to be grateful for because every day is because of the sacrifices my parents have done and nothing short but the grace of God.
Every sacrifice they made was to set me and my sister up for a better life.
And as the Church looks over its shoulder, it is impossible for the Church to pretend like it made it here on its own.
As I stand on the sacrifices of my parents, so the Church stands on the sacrifices of those that have come before us.
Martyrdom.
Persecution.
Christians risking everything so that others can get the chance to listen to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and experience grace.
Christians leaving homes and devoting their lives to missions.
Christians standing against the culture because of fundamental beliefs.
Christians suffering and enduring so that others can hear the ministry of reconciliation of Jesus Christ.
My prayer is that the Church won’t stop looking over its shoulder and remember that it is all about seeing people see the grace and hope found in Jesus Christ.
That it’s all about those that who had no hope who can now have hope.
About those who were lost have now been found.
About those who were blind can now see.
Who were dead but now have life.
That’s what the Church is all about. And my prayer is that we continue to sacrifice for the generations to come, so that they may hear the Good News of Jesus Christ.
This is a simple thought, a thought provoker, something to get a conversation going and to get you thinking about how the sacrifices of others created the bridges we’re on, the roads we walk, and the life we live.
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