Lent, as I alluded to a couple of nights ago, is partly about sacrifice. We give up things for Lent to help us understand this, to draw nearer to Christ, the ultimate sacrifice, through the experience of sacrificing a little piece of ourselves: our time, our pleasures, the routine of our daily lives.

But we don't often sacrifice much. My own sacrifice this Lent is merely denying myself the pleasures of staying up late to watch a film or progress further in a video game: denying myself privileges many cannot enjoy at the best of times. And the call of the Christian is not merely to give up a little at Lent (indeed, the Bible teaches us nothing about Lent as it's something the Church invented to aid in our preparations to remember the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ), but to give of ourselves constantly. Jesus said,“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me", and he was clear that those wishing to follow him should consider the cost of doing so, because it would be costly.

I wonder, sometimes, how costly my own faith has been. There are certainly moments when it has been hard and there have been times when being a Christian had made a target of sorts, and certainly, there are things that I have done - challenging things - that I would never have been strong enough, or brave enough to attempt had I not believed that Christ was with me, guiding me forwards.

And yet, I have had it easy and I know that some of that, at least, is because I haven't risked enough for the gospel or to help others in need, sacrificed enough for the Kingdom of God or to give to those who have nothing, made myself vulnerable enough to let God in and change me or to take another's pain upon myself and bear it for their sake. I have done just a little of these things and sometimes I have allowed myself to think that that is enough.

But we are called to sacrifice and we are called, not to take the easy path, but the road to Golgotha, the place of the skull, of execution and the death of our old, sinful selves. It is not an easy road, but as Christ had help to carry His cross, so He helps us bear ours.

I have much to reflect on the things I do to make my life easier, rather than to serve God - the little corners I cut, the principles I maybe start to squeeze out of shape, the compromises I make - but what about you? Do you consider self-sacrifice in the name of faith to be ridiculous? Is sacrifice of that kind ever valuable? What principle or goal would you offer your treats, your basic comforts or your whole lifestyle for? If you've ever considered following Jesus, have you considered the cost? Do you think you could ask another to help you bear it? Could you ask Him?