Sacrificial Love

Love is a sacrifice. Waow. I feel that this is not going to be one of those wonderfully eloquent pieces of writing, but this is something that has been on my heart and that I see as being very important.

Regardless of whether you are 'religious' or 'spiritual' or not, I ask you to consider this amazing biblical description of what love actually is. You have probably heard this countless times. Perhaps you're even growing bored of hearing it. I ask you to look at it now as if with new eyes...

1Corinthians13v4-7: Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Jeepers... love is about so much more than how I feel inside. Love is an active word. Love is sacrificial. Love is about considering the feelings, struggles, joys and situations of others. Love is about caring for others like we would long to be cared for. Love is about genuinely putting others before ourselves with NO ulterior motive... even if it means we have to be worse off because of it (yes it's big stuff!).

As much as I love discussing grand ideas and theorising etc, I'm not going to ramble around this subject for ages. The most important thing here is putting into practice the implications of sacrificial love. Oskar Schindler saved 1100 Jews during the holocaust by sheltering them through work within his factory. 'The good Samaritan' stopped to help the dying Jew (picture your WORST enemy, or someone you would feel seriously uncomfortable around - then picture them being the one to help you when you need it most - that is love). Jesus gave up his life to save people. I could list many more examples of extraordinary, sacrificial love... but I want you to think of what you could do as an act of sacrificial love.

Perhaps you need to sacrifice being so busy, and spend more quality time with your family.

Maybe you need to get up off your feelings of inadequacy and be there for that friend who needs you.

Maybe you need to start supporting the work of a charity.

Maybe you need to give up on your pride act and be more teachable, accept rebuke.

Perhaps you need to stop being so arrogant and try to see things from other points of view.

You've seen that boy or that girl who is in need of a friend, someone to take an interest... you could invite them out with you.

Perhaps you need to stop being so reckless with your money so that you can invest it in things that really matter.

Maybe you need to stop and speak to the people on our streets who are selling the big issue/belfast telegraph. I imagine a world where people are quicker to love than to judge.

Instead of crossing the street when you see a homeless person ahead, you could walk right up to them and take them for a sandwhich / buy them a coffee / have a chat.

Maybe you could actually start listening to your boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife.

You might be quick to recognise when someone isn't sensitive to your feelings/desires... so instead of dwelling on how hard done by you are, make the effort to be a sensitive friend to others.

Maybe you're bitter or angry about something. Could you sacrifice your bitterness for forgiveness?

Only you know what would be best to begin with in terms of living a life of sacrificial love. I pray that you would be blessed in the process of learning to actually love your neighbour as yourself. Take the challenge.

Jx