daily word - sacrifice

Are you familiar with the concept of sacrifice? It is an element of every faith tradition and understood even in the secular world. It involves the voluntary giving up of something of value. What does it mean to you as a Christian? Do you think of it as a means of buying favor with me? What do you have that I need? Could it be that sacrifice is for your benefit rather than mine? What would it do for you? Have you ever found that the things you value have a claim on you? Have you ever felt a sense of release and freedom from letting go of something you valued? Then was it really a sacrifice?