...He lays His glory by...

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!

Light and life to all He brings,

Risen with healing in His wings.

Mild He lays His glory by,

Born that man no more may die.

Born to raise the sons of earth,

Born to give them second birth.

Hark! The herald angels sing,

"Glory to the newborn King!"

One of the things that stuns me the most about Jesus actually coming to earth is everything He gave up. He gave up HEAVEN for us! He gave up perfection for cold wind, annoying brothers, back-stabbing friends, carpentry, and sunburns. He loved us so much that even that huge loss wasn't enough to stop Him from coming.

  I've been thinking about sacrifice a lot lately. God made the first sacrifice of an animal when Adam and Eve screwed up and realized they were naked (He gave them skin clothing, see Gen 3:21).  Jesus sacrificed heaven for our sake.  And God had to sacrifice his only son because we're full of sin.  If God can do all of that for us purely out of love, and never because we come close to deserving it, then surely I can make a few sacrifices too.  

  Going into full-time ministry is a big commitment.  I believe that call on my life is going to require some sacrifices, maybe the sacrifice of living the American dream, or living in a neighborhood that doesn't require bars on my windows, or having 50 pairs of awesome shoes :)  I don't know what they are yet, but I feel like God is saying to me "if we're going to proceed with this I've gotta know you're in no matter what."  When I think about all God has sacrificed for me I want to give the same in return.