My name is Aubree Nelson, and 10 days from the day I’m writing this, I’ll turn 19 years old. And my mom will be turning the ripe old age of 27! Just kidding, her age is confidential. But we do share a birthday! From the moment I could understand her words, she told me I was the best birthday gift she’d ever received. Every birthday I’ve ever had has been my special day, and it’s been a time when my family and friends celebrate my growth and accomplishments as I’ve gotten older. And as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that my mom has always put her birthday on the back burner to celebrate me- so, happy birthday, Mom! Let’s talk about what it means to love sacrificially.
Over 2,000 years ago, a baby was born of a virgin named Mary, and the baby was named Jesus, which means Yahweh saves. According to some scholars, this baby lived on the Earth for about 33 years, during which he performed many miracles and preached a message of salvation and love. Then, he willingly died on the cross to pay for the sins of people like you and I. PURELY because he loves us. Oh, and he came back to life 3 days later. But before all of it, knowing he would die for us, he said this in John 15:12-13,
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
In my almost 19 years of life, I have loved many people and many things. But sometimes, I’m unsure if I understand what that really means. I’ve loved watercolor skies, scattered stars in plains, and towering trees on winding roads. I’ve loved moments when time freezes, and life feels carefree. I’ve loved people and had people in my life who have loved me. But did I love the skies the same when the clouds rolled through? Did I love these moments the same when they ended? Could there be people in my almost 19 years of life that I have loved and then loved less? The truth is that my love is often conditional and imperfect.
But Jesus set a perfect example of how to love well and lead well (Haha, get it? Because that’s the name of the yeah, never mind). Jesus loves everyone perfectly and unconditionally! On Earth, he showed unconditional love to the Pharisees, Sadducees, and even Judas, even though they all wanted to harm him. I have trouble loving the kid who stole my lunch in middle school- and he loved the people who murdered him so much that he DIED for them! And we’re called to love people the same way!
A lot of people, when they think of sacrificial love, think of dying for the sake of someone else. And as incredible as this act is, there’s so much more to sacrificial love that people don’t consider. Because sacrificial love isn’t just being willing to die for someone else; it’s actively giving up your life to serve others. Sacrificing your life and your desires for the sake of someone else. So, when we truly love the Lord, we lay our lives and desires down before him. And we say, “Lord, I would die before I sinned against you!” Because this is the greatest form of love.
And when I think about people who truly love me and sacrifice their own lives and desires for me, I think of my mother. From the day I was born, she has loved the Lord first and foremost, but she has loved her family second. Not her career, her hobbies, her friends- but her family. Because she loved us, loved me. She imitates Christ in her sacrifice- by her work to provide for our family, the time she takes to teach and be there for us, or even the past 18 birthdays she’s given me. To whoever else may read this, I encourage you to reflect on these questions; who in your life has loved you sacrificially? Who do you love sacrificially? Have you truly laid down your life and surrendered your desires to the Lord? Even though I’m not a love expert, I’m confident that I can learn to love better by imitating Christ and the examples he’s given me, like motherly love. I can learn to sacrifice my own desires, my own will, and my own life for the people I love. But I can’t learn to do it on my own- because the only reason I’m able to love is because he loved me first. So, if you’re like me and you struggle to love unconditionally or you struggle to truly surrender your own ambitions, lean on the Lord to provide understanding and truth!
Father God, continue to strengthen us and reveal yourself in mighty ways! Thank you for the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross for our sake and for the blessings you give us daily. Help us love you first and foremost and the people around us, even when it is difficult. I pray that you will search our hearts and reveal whatever areas we have not truly sacrificed to you so we can do good work for the kingdom. In Jesus name, I pray, amen!
(John 15:12-13, NIV) My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
