But God
demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ
died for us.
Romans 5:8
Love is exciting and powerful, moving and
tender. Humans have worked for centuries to describe love in poetry, songs, and
stories. Love songs make up the majority of songs written. Movies and plays
often center on love and all it entails.
We feel the emotions that come with love, but our
feeble attempts to “love” sometimes end in sorrow. Why? Because we cannot be
completely successful in love if we don’t allow the Creator of love to work in
us. Without the Lord, we continue to be selfish, prideful people. We want what
is best for us, often without considering others. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love (1
John 4:8). We love because He loves us.
God loves us so much that he sacrificed His own
son to redeem us unto Him. He allowed Jesus to die in our place so that our
sins could be forgiven, and we could be set free. We are free to be in
relationship with him now, and to live in Heaven with Him for eternity.
However, we don’t like the word, sacrifice. It
brings about thoughts of pain, and even death. The Old Testament is full of
stories in which sacrifice included physical death. Although we do not
sacrifice animals today by shedding their blood, sacrifice is still a picture
of what love truly is. We can only love well when we allow God to move us to
sacrifice for another. We put selfish wants aside to benefit another. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not
envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not
self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs (1
Cor. 13:4-5).
With love comes sacrifice. God’s love came at a
huge cost. It cost Jesus immensely. But God was willing to sacrifice to show
His love to us. Are you willing to sacrifice to show love to others?
Father, teach us how we can love others well by sacrificing our
selfish ways for the betterment of those around us. Help us to love like you
love.
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