Costly Love

Love is costly. We understand that well in our culture. We show our love by buying flowers, by taking someone out to dinner, or by finding the perfect gift. In the same way, God showed his love for us by giving us exactly what we needed, even when it came at a great cost. The love God has for us is immensely costly – so costly that it meant giving up his own Son, Jesus, to die in our place and take the punishment our sins deserved.

The kind of costly love we give to one another usually only comes after we already know and love someone and feel they love us back. The remarkable thing about God’s love for us is that he gave Jesus for us, even before we knew or loved him. He was willing to pay that cost because he loves us so much.

We are called to love others in the same way that Jesus loves us, and that is going to be costly. Loving others is going to cost us time, energy, and perhaps even money. Sometimes it’s going to be easy for us to pay that cost and other times it’s going to be hard. Regardless, the Holy Spirit is with us, strengthening and transforming us so that we can love others the way God loves us.

When we love others the same way Jesus loves us, we can show others that God loves them too.

Questions:  

1. Does knowing that God’s love for you was so costly motivate you to act in the same way? Why or why not?  
2. Who could you rely on when it’s hard to show love to someone else? How?  
3. God calls us to love others throughout our whole lives. What could you do to stay on track and obey God in this way?

Prayer:

Father, while I was still a sinner and far off, you showed me love by sending your Son Jesus to die for me. Thank you. Give me the strength to love others each day, even when it’s challenging and costly. Give me the wisdom to look after myself, so I can keep loving others as you have loved me. Amen.