Celebrate! May 30, 2025 Devotional

MARK 10:43-45 | ⁴³ But it is not so among you; instead, whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴ and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. ⁴⁵ For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Sacrifice can be seen in a sudden act of courage or bravery. The soldier rescues a comrade under fire. The policeman shields the citizen from a violent attack. The EMT or firefighter enters the burning vehicle to save a life. But these same figures also sacrifice in ongoing ways, dedicating hours and days to less dramatic forms of service. The policeman encourages the teenager to leave a gang. The rescue worker teaches fire safety or emergency response skills.

This is encouraging for us. We too can “lay down our lives” in the ordinary moments when we serve others. Sacrifices of time and love and energy in the day to day are critical too.

Make a sacrifice for someone today.

Gracious God,

Show us, everyday, how we can offer our time and energy, our wisdom and support, to others.

Amen.