Sacrificial Love

We watched the sun set over the ocean as we finished our dinner. Walking back to the hotel as darkness closed in, just a faint hint of the watercolor sky we’d admired remained. With a few more blocks to go, the only light for our path now came from the small, local businesses that were still open. As we strolled along, filling the night with talk of our plans for the next day, I began to nervously notice that the darkened entrances of some of the stores seemed to be meeting places, holding shadowy figures huddled together. I didn’t mention my apprehension, our pace didn’t change, but in an instant his position did. Without a word, my husband of only a few days left his spot on the street side of the sidewalk and placed himself between me and the potential danger in the dark. With his arm wrapped tightly around my waist we continued on toward the warm glow of lights welcoming us back to our home away from home.

We’d fallen in love quickly. New love became committed love, but** it was on that short walk, just days into our marriage, when I first experienced my husband’s sacrificial love: that rare offering when we lay down what’s best for us for the sake of someone else.

“For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the alter day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.”
Hebrews 10:10-14 (NLT)

“This is real love-not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” 1 John 4:10 (NLT)

“Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:7-8 (NLT)

Yes, Jesus is the perfect example. He left his spot in the garden (even though He’d asked not to have to) and placed himself between us and the darkness of sin and evil by going to the cross. Despite knowing the danger that awaited Him, Jesus offered his life anyway for me and for you.  There is no greater Sacrificial Love!

We can’t match the sacrifice  Jesus has given us. As the passage in Romans tells us, we’re not likely to actually give our lives for another; but that doesn’t mean we can’t lay down our schedules, our priorities, our wallets, even our phones, for the sake of making a difference in someone else’s life. The ways to offer sacrificial love in our world are endless. And think about what would happen if we offered more and more!

A lot’s changed since that honeymoon walk 36 1/2 years ago, but one thing that hasn’t? Without a word we just know when to change spots to help each other make it through the darkness. And isn’t that what we should all do for each other? Stroll together, offering light for the path, until Jesus wraps His arms tightly around each us and welcomes us Home.

So glad to be back joining with writers I admire at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com ! The prompt for today is Sacrifice. 

**Five minutes