The Ultimate Sacrifice

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."  I John 4:10

The word that comes to my mind on Veteran's Day is sacrifice. One definition for the word "sacrifice" in Webster's Dictionary is: "the surrender or destruction of something valued for the sake of something else."  

    

Mothers sacrifice time, energy, and good nights of unbroken sleep for the sake of their children. Daddies sacrifice their time and energy and things they would like to do for themselves in order to provide financially for their families or toss a football or baseball with their kids. Soldiers, sailors, marines, and members of the Air Force sacrifice time at home with their families and put themselves in danger. They may be wounded or killed for our freedom.  

Of course, Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice. Imagine leaving the glory and splendor of heaven where He was omniscient, all powerful, sovereign, worshiped by angels, and adored by all in the heavenly realm, and coming to this old earth as a helpless baby. Imagine rubbing elbows with sinful people all around. Imagine having no home, walking dusty roads, and being tired, hungry, and thirsty for the sake of others. Imagine being stripped of clothes, being whipped, mocked, and crowned with thorns. And imagine being nailed to a cross and being left there until death eased His intense pain and humiliation.  Imagine choosing to do this for all of us. That's what love does. It sacrifices.

Father, thank You for all the people who have sacrificed for us.  Thank You for Your sacrifice in giving Your Son.  Thank You, Lord Jesus, for coming to earth and dying for us.  May we be willing to sacrifice with love for others.  Amen.

(reposted from May 2014)