Self-Sacrificial Love
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
God’s love is self-sacrificial as shown when He sacrificed his Son on the cross for our sins. Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39) Jesus was fearful in the flesh but he was willing to do the Fathers will, and Father gave him strength to endure the punishment for our sins. There is perfect love between the Father and the Son, and sacrificial love for us.
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. (1 John 4:12) As we reflect God’s love to others, He fills our hearts with His self-sacrificial love – agape love. God’s love increases in our hearts as we personally bring the good news of Christ to people. His love will powerfully motivate to pray and seek people to tell them about Christ. It’s like having the greatest news and you can’t wait tell others.
And anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. (Matthew 10:38-39) This verse is telling us that we follow Christ, and we follow through guidance by the Spirit. If we call on Christ for everything we do, we will be certain of following Christ to the best of our ability. If we become dependent on needing Christ in everything we do, we will begin to notice his divine power in us, and his self-sacrificial love increasing in our hearts.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, (Ephesians 3:20) His power is noticed when our hearts are filled with His self-sacrificial love which motivates us to follow Christ. There is no life on earth that is better and more fulfilling than living every day for Christ and receiving His power.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1) When our hearts are filled with God’s self-sacrificial love, then we are free in Christ. We now life with our focus on serving Christ and ministering to the world. This may not sound like the best life, but when our hearts change, we live for Christ and we enjoy life more than ever.
Today pray for a heart filled self-sacrificial love, which will motivate you to minister to others. Be encouraging and uplifting, and reflect the peace and joy from the Spirit. We are to be Holy, and this consists of reflecting Jesus to the world.
Prayer: Lord fill my heart with more self-sacrificial love, because it increases my motivation to live for Christ. Thank you Lord, for filling me with your Spirit and guiding me to the most fulfilling life. In Jesus name, Amen