Love Well: Emulating Jesus’ Ultimate Sacrifice in Honor of the Service Men and Women Who Never Came Home

“Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” 1 John 3:16

It’s easy to say we love.

Even if we don’t like using the word “love” itself, we can find other words to adequately express how we feel. But for some of us putting that love into action is much harder. 

Why? Because loving someone well requires sacrifice.

Loving someone well requires sacrifice. Click To Tweet

Thank God we have a wonderful guide to show us how to love well.  

Jesus Christ didn’t just say He loved us. He demonstrated it by paying the ultimate sacrifice for us.

Jesus gave His life so not only can we live a life of freedom from the shackles of sin on earth, but so we may also be free from our sins for all eternity. 

Let’s look at how He did it. 

Jesus sacrificed unconditionally.

Unlike you and me who tend to pick and choose who we will love. The Lord loves us all.

His gift of salvation is for all who believe and follow Him. We don’t have to, and can never, do enough to earn that gift.

Not only that, His love extends to impacting our lives here on earth. Through the blessing of the Holy Spirit, we have the grace to walk in faith in the face of temptations and difficulties. 

If Jesus didn’t discriminate, who are we to choose who we love?

Let’s love those who God places in our paths, regardless of whether we think they “deserve” that love. 

Jesus sacrificed abundantly.

We aren’t just given a little of what we need to live. God gave us abundant love, abundant mercy, abundant grace, abundant life. He didn’t give just some of what we need, or a bit of this and a smidgen of that. 

The Lord’s sacrifice met all our needs. He gave his all. 

Jesus sacrificed willingly.

No one twisted Jesus’ arm.

No one made Him give up His throne for a cradle.

No one coerced Him to exchange His relatively comfortable day job to become a wandering minister and healer.

No one forced Him to endure humiliation and physical persecution, which ultimately ended on a cross.

The Savior willingly stretched His arms wide enough to accommodate all who would receive His ultimate sacrifice for them. 

Examples of Loving Sacrificially

When it came to love, Jesus didn’t toy around on the fringes. He dove right in and literally gave His all.

Following His example, many service men and women gave their all as well. My uncle Harlan went missing-in-action in the Korean War and never returned. Although His ultimate sacrifice didn’t pay for anyone’s salvation, it did help purchase freedom for many.  

We can never forget these ultimate sacrifices of love. 

Let’s honor the memories of our deceased service men and women by not just loving with our words, but loving with our actions as well. 

Jesus offers the ingredients for doing just that. 

Jesus didn't toy around on the fringes of love but dove right in, giving His all. How can we follow His example? Click To Tweet

In memory … never forget (a moving video by the Skit Guys):  

“No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

Reflections: How are you being called to reach out in sacrificial love? What might sacrificial love look like in your life?

I’m excited to continue recording blessings this year. Since beginning over 3 years ago, I’ve counted more than 3,500 gifts in Ann Voskamp’s Joy Dare! What a blessing! So here we go in 2015: #3912–3932, read my entire list by clicking here.

• *Surprise Skype call from Daniel; *Daniel’s roommate (and good buddy) announced his engagement; *All-in-one-pan meals
• *Computer issues that pointed me to the plethora of daily blessings I so often miss; *Amazing 8th-grade band performance; *A girl who never tires of giving hugs (and never stops giving them!) 
• Opportunity to observe how protective Mama and Papa Eagle are of Junior Eaglet; Long, hot shower after a wet, cold hike; Just Rachel and me playing her favorite game of pretend that she named “Lori”
• *Not-so-terrible Day-Hab visits as we look into what’s best for Rachel; *Awesome middle school jazz band concert; *A lady who went out of her way to say how much she appreciated Rach, not despite her differences but because of them! Blessed! ‪
• *Warmth of the morning sun; *Full day to brainstorm and outline; *Another “I love you” message on my whiteboard–feeling loved
• Having Zach around to attend weekend events; Sweetness of a few minutes sitting with Rachel in the grass watching birds and cars go by; Celebrating a dear 90 year old
• Reliving a bit of the past at celebrations for 2 high school graduates; Seeing the power of a simple hug combined with assurance of prayer; Grape-scented iris blooms

 Joining the #RaRalinkup with Kelly Balarie:

By His grace ≈

Julie