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       True forgiveness will cost you something. God will not forgive us unless we forgive others. We cannot experience what we are unwilling to give, Matthew 18:32-35. Forgiveness is the only way to open up the channels of blessing; release the Spirit of hate, envy and strife so that the transforming power of love can flow. As we forgive with a pure heart, we can experience the joy of reconciliation. There can be no peace without the sacrifice of forgiveness.
       A true sacrifice is to give to a person that cannot repay you. Your pay is in the fact that God has blessed you so that you can be a blessing to someone else, Matthew 5:44-48. It is a sacrifice to love one's enemy. Your enemy cannot love you back. People who hate you cannot show you love. It is a great sacrifice to pray for those who despitefully use you. To pray God save them and bless their lives with goodness and mercy. "For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye?" "And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others?"
       To give ourselves for others is the mark of spiritual maturity. A selfish person will never grow. When you seek great things for others great things come back to you. God is glorified whenever we sacrifice for the sake of others. Whatever you lose for the Gospel you gain for eternity, John 12:24-26. Alexander the Great World Conquer gave pacific instructions that when he died his body should be placed in the coffin in such a way that it should be seen that his hands were empty. This was done to show the world the he could take nothing with him.
       The principle of the world is that a man should live for himself. The principle of Christianity is that a man should live for others. The selfish nature can be replaced by the joy of sacrifice. The rich man of Matthew 19:22 went away from Jesus with great sorrow because he loved his possessions more than God. Whatever you love more than God is your God. The rich man could not respond to the call of Jesus because of his selfish Spirit he would know sorrow instead of joy.
       You are born of the qualities you give out. In giving out of love you transform the other person and yourself. "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good." Luke 6:45. We must be willing to practice love in ministry to others.  In this way we can see and experience the transforming power of God in the world in which we live.
       It is a very dangerous thing to be greedy behind material things. Our desire should be for more of God, for he along is the giver of every good and perfect gift. "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof."Psalm 24:1. "The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts."Haggai 2:8. "For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly."Psalm 84:11. "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."Matthew 6:33.
       Our God bestows his grace freely upon every believer to be vessels of his Praise and Glory, to offer up our lives as a living sacrifice. With this privilege there is laid upon us a great responsibility. "To whom much is given, of him shall be much required."  Luke 12:48. Sacrificial giving is to know the grace of God and its power, as we grow in love, we can know the beauty of Sacrifice.