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Having Sacrificial Love

Have you ever known someone who gave sacrificial love? I think we all have had examples of that kind of love, but the greatest example of sacrificial love is shown by Jesus. “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:16-18 ESV) The Apostle John admonishes the church to exhibit sacrificial love to others by looking at the example Christ exhibited by dying on the cross for our sins. 

What do we mean by sacrificial love? In the Bible, “love” can be used in the Greek language in four main ideas. 1. The word Eros refers to sexual love. It is the form from which we get our word erotic. 2. The Greek word Storge refers to the type of love we have for family, such as between parents and children, or other family members. 3.  Philia is the word used for brotherly love, such as the type of love we have for our friends and neighbors. 4. The last type of love is Agape. This love doesn’t change, it is a self-giving love that we can only exhibit with the help of God.  Agape love doesn’t expect anything in return, it loves even when the other party doesn’t return that love.

Jesus’ death on the cross is an example of Agape love. Jesus loves us even when He knows we may never return that love. He sacrificed Himself on the cross for our sins because of His great love for us. We can’t look at this passage of Scripture without also looking at John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life.” (KJV) God loved us so much that He provided a way for us to be saved from our sins through Jesus taking our place on the cross. Jesus willingly gave up His life for us because of His sacrificial love.

The Apostle John tells us in our Scripture passage in 1 John, that we should also love as Jesus did and show it in our actions, not just in what we say. He also said, “ If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. (1 John 4:20 NASB 1995) Jesus told us that we are to love one another even as we love ourselves. (Matthew 22:39)  

Sacrificial love is also described in 1 Corinthians 13, which is known as the “Love Chapter.” Each description of the kind of love we should exhibit is the same as that which Jesus showed toward us. It is Agape love that we can only exhibit with God’s help. Love that is patient, kind, isn’t arrogant, doesn’t keep track of wrongs done to it, etc. shows sacrificial love, just as Jesus exhibited. We are to learn from His example and show love to others in the same manner as He did.

It’s easy to love those who are easy to love. But we are not called to just love those who we find easy to give our love to, we are called to show love to those who we find it difficult to love. That’s where God’s help in showing Agape love comes into play. We are to ask Him to help us love the unlovable. We are to go out of our way to love them and show that love in our actions, in our speech, and in our attitudes. Fake love can be easily seen. When we just go through the motions, others can tell that we are not being genuine. The Apostle Paul says, “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” (Romans 12:9 NIV) Loving someone who is difficult to love shows the kind of sacrificial love John mentions. When we show sacrificial love to that person, they aren’t seeing us, they are seeing Jesus in us.  Remember, the essence of love is self-sacrifice.

So, as we go through our daily lives, endeavor to show genuine sacrificial love to those around us.  Let them see Jesus’ love shining through you and I. 

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Donna Knuth Rice

I am trying a blog for the first time in my life, and frankly, I feel like I don't have a clue as to what I'm doing! But, here goes. I work at a Christian Television network in the Correspondence Department, where I write letters and emails to our viewers, pray with them for their needs, and send materials they request. I am a Christian. I was saved at the age of 11 during a youth meeting at my church. My pastor led me to the Lord, and to say the least, my life has been an adventure. I am a widow. My late husband, Allen, passed away after 34 1/2 years of marriage. He had been sick the last seven years of his life, and it was a struggle, for him and for me. We met as part of a singing group that was affiliated with a Christian Radio station, and we sang together all through our lives together. We both worked in television and radio all through our married life, mostly for Christian stations. Besides singing I also play flute. I had the luxury of having parents who started out as music teachers...so music was in our house constantly. Some people describe me as being a loud-mouthed lime type...can't disagree with that. I have a tendency to put my foot in my mouth more times than I can count! I also have a tendency to say exactly what's on my mind...which is why I get myself in so much trouble! LOL! Trust me, that's something me and God have been working on for a very long time. I have no children here on earth, although I have a baby in heaven. My baby here is my dog Jack. He's a black lab/ chow mix. He's a big boy....thinks he's a lap dog! Can't think of much else to say. The reason I started this blog is because a few months ago in church, a guest pastor came and delivered a message, and when he asked for those of us who wanted prayer to come forward, I did. When he came to me he asked me if I did any journaling. I told him no 'cause I wasn't very good at it. He told me to start, and prophesied over me that my journal thoughts would impact other people. I wasn't sure just how I was to go about doing this. In fact, I was a little hesitant at first. I started journaling at home, and our assistant pastor's wife asked me to submit something for our Senior newsletter. I didn't the first edition, but something I had heard on Christian radio a long time ago and has stuck with me all these years, came to mind so I submitted an article. That article will be my first post. I don't claim to have all the answers, and my thoughts may seem a little "out there", but I feel God has been prodding me to do this, and so here I am. I hope what I post will bring encouragement, and "Something to Think About".

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