FriendshipSample

Thursday: The Ultimate Sacrifice

SOAP: John 15:13

No one has greater love than this—that one lays down his life for his friends.

Devotion:

Jesus displayed the greatest love for us by laying down His life for our sake. Not only does He make this ultimate sacrifice on behalf of His friends, but He does also it for His enemies. He died for the ones who shouted for His crucifixion, the ones who opposed His ministry, even the disciples who would abandon Him on the cross. He died for us as well—people who sin against Him, hurt His children and often misrepresent Him to the world. He showed the ultimate love in dying for those He called friends even when they were acting as enemies. 

We are called to imitate such selfless love in our own communities. Just as Christ demonstrated His love by His actions, we are called to demonstrate our love to the world by our actions. We can follow His example by seeking out those the world ignores and showing them compassion. We can witness the truth of Christ’s sacrifice by showing the world that we are also willing to sacrifice our preferences and comfort for the sake of another. 

Prayer:

God, thank You for making the ultimate sacrifice for me. Thank You for loving me like a friend even when I was Your enemy. Give me the grace to show that kind of love to others. Amen.