20^th July

“We know what real love is because Jesus gave up His life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters!”

1 John 3:16

Have you had the experience of knowing that something you do is going to cost you in time or money, only to find out after that actually what you did was so appreciated and really touched someones heart? Furthermore have you ever experienced sacrificing what you think is so great to only find out, what you invested impacted the Kingdom of God greatly?

Quite often we think of the cost to ourselves rather than the blessing of others before agreeing to do something for someone else, and quite often when we way up the cost to ourselves and the sacrifices we have to make, it often hinders us from helping someone financially or with our time. Yet if we are to look at the greatest sacrifice of all, we realise that what Jesus gave up for us, turns our sacrifices into insignificance. Jesus sweated blood in the garden of Gethsemane because He knew the greatness of the sacrifice He was going to make for us. He even asked God to take the cup away from Him, yet because of the love He has for us, preserved to death, even on the cursed cross.

However the outcome of His sacrifice was that we can live in peace with God forever and no longer be slaves to sin, fear and death but be called sons and daughters of the most High God. We are set free by the sacrifice He made for us. There too awaits a huge blessing if we to humble ourselves and start putting others needs before our own. Yes there may be a huge sacrifice to make, but the blessings that await cannot be measured. Let Jesus be our perfect example.