00:00Hi, I'm Rev Brenda, vicar of St Francis Anglican Church in Ingleby Barwick, Teesside.
00:13A lot of people misunderstand the Christian life of sacrifice. In Lent we might give up
00:18chocolate or social media. And it is true, good Christians try to lead healthy lives,
00:24for example not getting drunk or swearing. But we wouldn't want to. St Paul says everything
00:31else is rubbish when compared with knowing Jesus. For Christians, when you truly know
00:37Jesus and his love for you, everything else becomes rubbish. Now that might seem extreme.
00:45It doesn't mean we don't care about other people. And sometimes following Jesus is costly
00:51and thinking particularly of the persecuted church around the world. But when it comes
00:56to material things and excessive love of self, the mantra, live your best life your way,
01:04well, our best lives are lived in God and in service of others. Not worshipping the
01:10stuff of this world does not feel like sacrifice, it feels like freedom. And look at all we
01:17gain, true peace, contentment, knowing Jesus walks with us in difficult times and ultimately
01:24eternal life. The stuff of this world turns to dust, but living God's way is life in
01:32all its fullness. Amen.
Comments