Memorise: Greater love hath no man than this, that a
man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
Read: John 21:15-19 (KJV)
15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas,
lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that
I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to
him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto
him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my
sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of
Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third
time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou
knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 18 Verily,
verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and
walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch
forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou
wouldest not. 19 This spake he, signifying by what death he
should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
The Bible teaches Christians to love God. The Bible
also teaches that such love should be expressed in worship and practical
service. One of the most important lessons that the Bible teaches on love is
that love is unconditional, and that the ultimate test of love is sacrifice.
Therefore, any declaration of love that is devoid of sacrifice is questionable.
The Bible is strongly in agreement with the fact that love is sacrificial.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.” John 3:16
When you are genuinely in love, making sacrifices
for the one you love will be a thing of pleasure and not a burden. Jacob was in
love with Rachel and asked her father what he must do to marry her. Rachel’s
father told him to serve for seven years and he willingly did so. Because of
his love, seven years were like seven days to him. When he was deceived, he yet
agreed to serve another seven years for his heartthrob (Genesis 29:18-28). No
price is too much to pay for the one you love. If you truly love your wife, you
will pay the price of faithfulness in the midst of pressure to be unfaithful to
her in your workplace, or even in the ministry. Some husbands are yet to
demonstrate their love for their wives by sacrificially giving to her. If your
relationship with your wife is all about convenience – you do things for her
only when it is convenient, then you owe your wife big time. Wives of such
husbands should demand of their husbands the debt of sacrifice.
Sacrifice help to gauge your love for God. We can
say God loves us exceedingly because He was prepared to part with His only
begotten Son. If you say you love God, you will be ready, like Paul was, to
spend and be spent for Him. Some questions I often ask people are; can you
serve the Lord for 14 years without pay? Can you serve the Lord in the rural
areas with no social amenities? Can you serve under an uneducated man of God
when you are well educated? Can you leave certainty for uncertainty in the name
of vision and revelation? What do you have to show for your love for God? Where
is the sacrifice in your relationship with the Lord?
Prayer Point: Father, please help me to fully
appreciate Your sacrificial love for me.
Bible in one year: Leviticus 1-3, Psalms 119:113-128
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