We all know that sacrifice is a part of true love. Examples are all around us. We see it in new parents as they sacrifice sleep to care for their newborn child, caregiving spouses as they sacrifice personal comfort to care for their beloved, or loving neighbors as they sacrifice leisure time to help an elderly neighbor mow their lawn. The pinnacle of loving sacrifice, however, is seen in Christ, who gave his life to redeem us (Luke 19:10).
As followers of Christ, we’ve been called to demonstrate this kind of sacrificial love to everyone around us, even our enemies (Matthew 5:43-44; 22:39; John 13:34-35). But this can be difficult.
In our day, we face new challenges to our call to love. There are passionate, differing opinions about things like the use of facemasks amid the pandemic, which lives matter, who’s rights matter, etc. But no matter where we fall on polarizing topics, we’re still called to love. And sometimes, that means sacrificing personal preferences, interests, or even rights for the sake of others (Philippians 2:3-4).
This week, what preference, interest, or right can you sacrifice for the sake of love? For the sake of the gospel? For the sake of Christ? In what ways can you put Philippians 2:4 into practice and "value others above [yourself]"? And if you need help, just look to Jesus, who humbly set aside even his own rights to redeem you (Philippians 2:5-8). After all, it is this good news—this gospel—of Christ's love that changes us!
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