It’s natural to simply look out for our own interests. And perhaps we might give to others if it doesn’t require too much of us. But the ultimate call of love is to love each other as Christ has loved us. And this means a willingness to put our life on the line for the sake of others.
Those in the military are rightly honored for securing our freedoms and way of life with the price of their blood. And, of course, it’s through Christ’s death on the cross that we’re born again to a new life with God.
But sacrificial love should not be limited to laying down our physical lives. While this might be required of us, as we do protect and provide in the physical realm, more often than not our call is to be a living sacrifice.
As such, just as Christ gave up his divine privileges to be born as a man, we too must be willing to give up our comforts and privileges to serve the needs of others. And we also follow his example by being committed to doing whatever it takes to bring more of God’s goodness and life into the world.
Certainly, this will be inconvenient. And it will also require good doses of humility, and might cost us our social standing as well.
To be sure, it’s much easier to honor the sacrifices of others than to live with this same spirit ourselves. But it’s not enough to simply remember the lives given for us without also having it change how we show up in the world.
We honor the sacrifices made by becoming living sacrifices ourselves – giving our life in service to the larger story God is telling.
In the end, your life is possible because of the sacrificial love others gave on your behalf. There’s no greater love than this. And you’ve been called to do the same.
Photo by Quaritsch Photography on Unsplash
