SACRIFICE: THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” – John 15:13

REFERENCE:

JOHN 15:9-15

I often say, “Love that does not understand the language of sacrifice is not love.” We know love because Jesus laid His life down for us. By that singular act, we who were sinners destined to eternal punishment became God’s children. John said, “Behold what manner of love has the Father loved us with, that we should be called sons of God.”

Jesus did many things that showed us His love. His love for us made Him leave His royal throne in heaven to come to the earth. Love made Him live like a commoner, which is why he could identify with the downtrodden. Love made Him pray, fast, and travel long distances so He could minister to people with God’s power. He was reproached, insulted, misunderstood, and even rejected by His own for our sake…all because of love. It did not end there; Jesus died.

The law that undergirds the kingdom of God is the law of love. Scripture says, “God is love.” The greatest commandment is love to God and man, and faith works by love. Love gives us boldness on the day of judgment; because love is the nature of God and cannot be cast into hell (I John 4:17). By His sacrificial death, Jesus raised us to be sons of God, like Himself. You are to live and love like Him. He sacrificed His life for us and calls us to love one another as He has loved us. 1 John 3:16 says, “By this, we know love because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” Jesus’ sacrifice revealed God’s love to us.

If sacrificial love enters our homes, there will be fewer divorce cases, fewer rebellious children, and stronger families. If it enters our public life, we will sacrifice for one another; traffic jams, theft, nepotism, banditry, tribalism, and corruption will all reduce. It will stop cases of rape totally and create a safer world for us all. Love only fails because we fail to love.

Be an ambassador of God’s agape love to those in your sphere of engagements. Treat them as you would want them to treat you. Inconvenience yourself for people, give gifts, allow them to go first on the line, cheer a traffic warden or a cashier at a busy store. Ask a colleague to go out with you for lunch and pay for it, or credit at least two people with air time today. By these, you will allow someone to encounter God. Jesus said, “Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you will prompt people to open up with God…” Be a lover, and make sacrifices for those you love.

PHOTO QUOTE

ADDITIONAL TEXT:

I John 3:13-17, Philippians 2:2-4 & I John 4:7-8

CALL TO ACTION

God wants you to make beauty happen for someone else. It is good, beautiful, and pleasant when brethren live in love and unity. So, look out for what you can do to make a beautiful life for someone; sow a seed of love, a smile, a call, a gift, forgiveness, etc. It will be the way to your victory. What you make to happen for others, God will make happen for you. Be the heart, hands, and feet of Jesus to the world.