[Real Life] Love And SacrificeSample

Sacrificial Love

There were a few 14-year-old girls who were hanging out on boogie boards on a lake in Florida. All of a sudden, an alligator bit the arm of one of the girls and dragged her underneath the water. She began to pry herself loose from the alligator with her other arm, she popped back out of the water and every one of her friends had left in panic... except one, her best friend Amanda. Amanda pulled her to shore as the gator followed them. If Amanda had not chosen to stay, her friend would have been killed by the alligator. 

In the Greek language, three words for ‘love’ are:

Eros, romantic love. 

Phileo, friendship, brotherly love.

Agape, God's love.

John 15 uses the word Agape, which involves deep feeling but begins with a decision. Does it mean there is no emotion? No, it does not. However, we need to understand that God’s love is a decision.

In marriage, we decide to stick together through thick and thin. In the midst of sacrifice, it is the decision that holds you in it. Maybe you know this because your spouse has cared for you in a tough time, and it has been their decision to do it. 

Jesus Christ says, “Greater love has no man than this, that he lays down his life for his friends.”

The greatest possible love is Jesus Christ on the cross. In this passage of Scripture, John 15, Easter is coming in a couple of days. Jesus is saying, “I’m going to the cross and you need to know that I love you greatly. Remember that as I give my life for you.” If our friend named Jesus had not died, we would never have been able to be in relationship with the Father. 

A friend sacrifices for another friend. I want to be the kind of friend Amanda was. Sacrificial love might look different for you and me. Maybe we have to decide to go sit at a different table, not with the cool kids. Maybe we choose to stay in our marriage or workplace even though it is difficult to do so. 

The gators are circling, but I decide to remain a friend who sticks closer than a brother. No love is greater than a man who lays down his life for his wife, kids, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and Savior. I want to experience Agape love.