Love is Sacrifice

Min. Misti Sawyer

            When Jesus was on the Mount of Olives, right before the mob came to take Him, He spent time in prayer.

Matthew 26:39

39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Jesus knew what he would have to endure.  He knew he would have to suffer beatings, scourging, and ultimately crucifixion.  Why did Jesus say nevertheless?  Jesus knew that it was only by Him being the sacrifice for us, that we could, through Him, also be saved.  Many don’t stop to think about the fact that no one could have just taken Jesus’ life from Him.  He willingly gave His life for our salvation and reconciliation back to the Father.

John 10:18 KJV

18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Matthew 26:53-54

53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?  54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

Jesus sacrificed His life because of His love for us.

            We often pray for those who are close to us; we pray for their salvation, deliverance, and repentance. We don’t always understand what the Father needs to do in order for those things to happen.   However, loving someone means enduring with them through their process, even when that process may cause us pain as well.  This is especially true when the person is our spouse, children, family member, or maybe a close friend.  I have learned that if my momentary pain can produce deliverance for another, then it is more than worth it.  After all, isn’t that what our lives are supposed to be about? Isn’t our lives evolved around seeking the salvation and reconciliation of others?  It is easy to show love when things are going great, but love is proven in difficult times.  Love truly does equal sacrifice; laying down our lives, our will, our plans, and our time for the betterment of others. It is in the sacrifice that our lives gain the most meaning.  Remember Jesus on the cross; His greatest purpose was in His death. His new life gained the most meaning.  May we always look to Yeshua/Jesus as the greatest example of what our lives and what love should really look like.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 AMPC

Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.  It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].  It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.  Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].  Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth].

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