Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

The act of sacrificing is as old as time. History records how people offered sacrifices to their gods. Yes, even before the first pages of the Bible were ever written. The Bible though helps clarify the intentions and purpose of sacrifices.

We have the initial story in Genesis of Cain and Abel both offering a sacrifice to God. God accepted Abel’s but not Cain’s. Later Abraham was ready to offer his son Isaac as an offering to the Lord. Later grandson Jacob offered a sacrifice to God. The people of that period found it natural to offer sacrifices in appeasing their gods. They realized there was a world beyond them. They thus practiced their religious rituals in an act to find favor with the gods. They believed these gods influenced world events and their lives. This was the custom of the times.

When you look at every culture in history, they had their gods to appease. What the Lord of the old covenant introduces is the fact there is only one god worth worshiping – Jehovah. So in a culture of sacrificial practices to many gods, HE introduces HIMSELF. HE starts with Abraham and his family lineage. With Moses, HE reinforces HIS position as the only God worth serving. The sacrificial rituals continue, but are aimed at the ONE God. The practices remain until the arrival of Jesus.

Jesus, God in flesh, clarified the meaning of the sacrificial practice. HE, and later the apostles would emphasize the reason behind the sacrifices. The purpose wasn’t to appease God, but to learn the importance of living a life of sacrificial love. All the rituals pointed toward Jesus.   

Jesus demonstrated the power of sacrificial love throughout HIS life. From birth through his last breath, HE packaged this way of life to live under HIS Father’s Kingdom. The Triune God’s way of life is built on sacrificial love.

The Father sacrificed HIS Son for the redemption of humanity. The Son willingly and in HIS own admission sacrificed HIS life for you and me. All this so we may join them in the eternal circle of Father-Son-Spirit. Sacrificing oneself for another is the way of God.

Real love is sacrificial. This is the love that is God-ordained. We witness its impact throughout history and in the lives of those closes to us. We see this from the love of a parent for their child. We read about the actions of an army buddy throwing their body on top of an exploding grenade. Love is about what’s best for the other person, not you.

If you want to know the depth of your love, ask yourself. Are you willing to sacrifice all for another person. A close family member, most likely. But to a stranger, that is the measurement of one’s heart.

Jesus, before we ever met HIM or heard about HIM, when HE was still a stranger to us, did this for you and me. That is the power of sacrificial love.

That is the love of God we want fully expressed in us and through us for the sake of all those around us. Until then, we walk humbly and gracefully knowing we are still a work in process.  We are very grateful for the love of God being expressed in us and through us for the sake of ourself, others, and HIS Kingdom. HIS earthly life showed us the value of sacrificing for others. It is how love is expressed.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

^{Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler}

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“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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