Today's Devotional brought to you by Prayer Warrior Michelle Simpson

Love Requires Sacrifice

John 15:12-14

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹² This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. ¹⁴ You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.

Love one another as Jesus loved us. What does that look like? Jesus gave up everything that we may have an opportunity to have eternal life in heaven. He enjoyed unbroken fellowship with His Father in heaven, He walked streets of gold, could be everywhere and knew everything, nothing was beyond His reach. In heaven Jesus never knew want or need, never knew physical pain or dependency. He was not confined to a physical body. He gave up all of that to come to earth, be confined to flesh, know what it means to hunger and thirst, know the pain of scrapes and cuts and knew the pain that could be inflicted by one person on another. He experienced the pain of separation that death causes, the pain of betrayal of a friend, the deep love of family and the hurt when family doesn't understand you. Jesus came to earth to lay down His life that we might have life. When He did that He experienced something that He had never experienced, the pain of separation from His Father, God. 


Jesus understands the sacrifice of love. This command that He gave us was not given without understanding what it could cost each individual person. This kind of love we are incapable of achieving on our own. We must be willing to put others needs ahead of our own (Romans 12:10), instead of looking for ways to benefit ourselves. God asked Abram to sacrifice his son of promise, the son of his old age as a demonstration of his faith. Abram was willing to do this trusting all the while that God would provide (Gen. 22:1-8). What have you been asked to give up in the name of love? If God is the One asking you to give it up He will give you the strength to do it. The person you give it up to or for may draw closer to God because of your obedience and God will bless your obedience as well!


Father, Creator, Savior, Lover of my soul, thank You for loving me so sacrificially! Teach me to love others like You love! Help me to love sacrificially, compassionately and forgivingly! In Jesus loving name, amen.