“We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.”
1 John 3:16 NLT REAL LOVE!
Real love is all about “sacrifice”. We know real love when we contemplate the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ and meditate on Him who died for us so we can live! In Ephesians chapter 5, St. Paul defines love as “sacrifice” when he speaks about the relationship between husband and wife. We are to remember that “sacrifice” means to lose something for the sake of gaining something else. It might be losing money, time, comfort, reward, recognition...etc. Yet gaining the salvation of another soul or bringing peace and joy to the heart of someone.
Love is sacrificial in the sense that “I deny myself” for the sake of another’s wellbeing. As Christ did love us and gave his life for us, so we who are CHRISTIANS ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters! This is a CLEAR CALL TO SERVE, for service is a fruit of love! Would you show this type of love TODAY towards your spouse, parents, children, siblings, relatives, friends and all others? Is there someone out there whom you still treat with the old principle of “eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”?! Have you not transferred over to the GRACE of the New Covenant yet?
The word of God is calling us to imitate Him who so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son to save the world! This “giving” hurt and was painful, inconvenient and tough! When you give your life for others, it will also be painful, inconvenient and hard BUT this love never loses; it is always a winner!
