Utmost

"But as soon as we do totally surrender, abandoning ourselves to Jesus, the Holy Spirit gives us a taste of His joy. The ultimate goal of self-sacrifice is to lay down our lives for our Friend (see John 15:13-14). When the Holy Spirit comes into our lives, our greatest desire is to lay down our lives for Jesus. Yet the thought of self-sacrifice never even crosses our minds, because sacrifice is the Holy Spirit’s ultimate expression of love."
- Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest, 08/25

It's not a "sacrifice" to lay aside your needs or wants in really serving others. That's where I fall short, seeing obedience as sacrifice rather than as real joy. How many of us as christians would be better disciples if we looked more at what God is doing than at what we think we're having to "give up"? The things that fall away aren't usually as desireable as they once were, and the things coming our way in Jesus are that much better. Not easier, most times more difficult - but better, more meaningful.

Perspective is an amazing thing.