We Lay Our Lives Down for Others. This is Jesus’ Sacrificial Love
Jesus sacrificed His life for us. We offer our lives for others when needed.
Scripture Readings: We show agape love to each other through sacrifice, just as Jesus’ example of love — to those around Him and to us — was through sacrifice (John 13:34; 15:12–13; Romans 13:8–10; Galatians 5:13; Ephesians 5:2, 25; I John 3:16, 18; 4:9–12)1. (Bing, 12/09/2024)
Reflection. Jesus, our Lord, Savior and God loves us with sacrificial love. We love others as Jesus loves us. We are willing to offer our lives if needed.
Scripture Reading: A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (John 13:34, NIV)
In Josh’s song found at the end of this Bible study. We hear of a true example of sacrificial love. Where a pastor as he lay bleeding and dying on the side of the road. He handed, with a trembling hand. His final act of sincere love. He gave, with blood seeping over it. His beloved Bible to a ‘hooker’. Not realising this simple blessing of true love would change her life forever. This final gift from a man of God. This blood-stained Bible changed her life. And the life of her son in ways unknown to him.
This pastor lay dying and bleeding on the side of the road. He thought not of himself. This man of God thought only of what love He could leave. The love he could bless to the heart of this lost soul. Such love this man had in his heart. Such sacrificial and unselfish love. This sacrificial love He will take with him to Paradise. This love of God will go with the hooker and pass on to her son.
Scripture Reading: My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (John 15:12–13, NIV)
God gives Himself for the world in sacrificial love and welcomes the worst of sinners. As Jesus laid down His life, taking our sin upon Himself and nailing it on the cross, we are to look to Him who loved us so lavishly and we are to love others with this love that we have seen and experienced from Him. (Ruth Clemence, November 01, 2019)
This agape/sacrificial love does not come easily for us.
It is an instinctive reaction to save our lives at any cost. It is against our nature to lay down our lives for the sake of the other. We believe in our hearts it is the right thing to do. We believe in our hearts it is what Almighty God expects of us. We feel in our hearts it is what Jesus would do. To lay down our lives for the other.
Then we take a few deep breaths. We pray, and we pray some more. The courage and the strength of God the Holy Spirit stirs within us. We do whatever is necessary at the time to save the person placed before us. This person before us is also a creation of Almighty God. This person is lying in desperate need. This suffering soul was also created in the image of God. We humbly and obediently give our lives if needed.
Saint Paul teaches us in Romans 12:1 to be a living sacrifice.
Each day we humbly and obediently serve Almighty God. In this way, we return the love God, our Heavenly Father has given us. We are obeying His command to love one another. We remember Almighty God gave His own Son for us.
Each day we humbly serve Almighty God. We care for and tend to the needs of others. We at times feel real joy at doing this. We have had times when we share happy times with the other person. Then there are the sad times. We share the heartaches and the times of loneliness of the other. We thank Jesus. So far we have not faced a situation. Where our lives were put on the line. We have nothing to offer except our lives.
Would we? If needed. Would we? Give our lives to the person in need. I pray to God when the time comes. The answer will be a courageous, YES! We will not be alone. God, the Holy Spirit stirs within. Reminding us, we are not alone. God, the Holy Spirit stirs within. He will give us the courage and the strength we do not have. God, the Holy Spirit stirs within. He speaks of the sacrificial love of Jesus. We are not alone.
We kneel beside her. We bandage her bleeding wounds. We speak softly and compassionately words of comfort and love. We touch her hand with the love of Jesus. We look into her eyes. Reassuring her, all is well. We care for and tend to her. We usher a prayer to Heaven. A silent prayer to Almighty God for her healing. A prayer to God to touch her heart with His forgiveness. Then the rest we leave to Him. We pray that another lost soul is found. Another lost soul has found her way Home.
Sacrificial love is never easy. It was not easy for our Lord Jesus. We see Jesus as He hung on His wicked cross. As the Roman soldier plunged his soldier into our beloved’s side. Jesus shed blood and water. Jesus’ heart was broken. We had broken the heart of Jesus, God the Son. It was by our sins. The compassionate and gentle heart of our Lord Jesus was broken.
Conclusion. No, for Jesus Christ our Savior. Sacrificial love is not easy. Sacrificial love is never for us.
- The reward for us. Paradise for eternity with Jesus and Almighty God.
- Jesus, our Lord, Savior and God loves us with sacrificial love. We love others as Jesus loves us. We are willing to offer our lives if needed.
- This agape/sacrificial love does not come easily for us.
- Saint Paul teaches us in Romans 12:1 to be a living sacrifice.
Josh Turner sings as an angel, “Three Wooden Crosses.” Reminding us of the Persistent love of Jesus Christ.
The Meaning Behind The Song: Three Wooden Crosses by Josh Turner.
One such story that has always resonated with me is the song “Three Wooden Crosses” by Josh Turner.
The answer lies in the notion that it’s not what you take when you leave this world, but what you leave behind that truly matters. The farmer leaves behind his harvest, his home, and the love for growing things in his son’s heart. The teacher leaves behind her wisdom in the minds of countless children, giving them a better start in life. And the preacher, in a selfless act, gives his blood-stained Bible to the hooker, symbolizing the power of redemption and forgiveness. (Pearl Hubbard)
Marvin’s article shows God places wonders in our lives, Diane.
I pray there was something in my article where God blessed you.
If so, please highlight this piece.
Send me a comment on how God blessed you through my words.
God keep you safe under His wings always, Diane.
