Advent Reflections: Sacrificial Love

I am the good shepherd; The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. - John 10:11 NLT

What would it look like to let God’s love move through you in such a way, calling you beyond your own comfort, to truly see and care for others the way Jesus would?

We are all familiar with the greatest example of love: that our Heavenly Father loved us so deeply He allowed His only begotten Son to be born and then die on the cross for us. When we pause to consider this, the reality that Jesus willingly sacrificed His life for you and for me is overwhelming. His love was not distant or theoretical; it was personal and costly, for our sake.

But God’s love was never meant to stop at the cross, it was meant to flow through us. The love we have so freely received is the very love we are called to extend to others. Loving our family, our friends, and our brothers and sisters in Christ often comes naturally. Yet loving complete strangers, or even those we find difficult or uncomfortable, can stretch us in ways that reveal just how deeply that love has taken root in our hearts.

Sacrificial Love in Action

Recently, I witnessed this kind of love in action when my close friend demonstrated sacrificial love toward a stranger. I learned that this wasn’t a one-time moment, but a common occurrence in her life, and was deeply struck by how naturally serving others flows from her heart.

I live in a mountain community where the roads wind through small towns and hilly terrain. For years, I noticed an elderly man wearing a bright orange reflective jacket, slowly shuffling along one of the main roads that leads from town to the small cluster of shops near the on-ramp to the highway. Rain or shine, snow or wind, he was always there, walking along the roadside, and I often found myself wondering about him. Was he homeless? Walking to work? Exercising? What was his story? Though I passed him countless times, he remained a mystery.

Well, recently, I met my friend at a coffee shop located in that cluster of stores by the on-ramp, and lo and behold, there he was, sitting inside! To my amazement, my friend was giving him a ride home. I learned that over the years, she had taken the time to slowly build a relationship with him, sacrificing her time to truly get to know him. And, she not only gives him rides, but she also picks up food for him to help him stay nourished.

I’ll admit that learning her story made me feel a bit uncomfortable. All these years of passing that man on the road...

Love Is Limitless

The more time I spend with my friend, the more beautiful examples of serving others I see reflected in her life, reminding me that every single person is a child of God. Every single person has a story. My friend did exactly what we are called to do as believers: be the hands of feet of Jesus, everyday — rain or shine, snow or wind.

Love cannot exist without sacrifice; love always costs something. It asks us to sacrifice our time, our talents, our money, reputation, and even our pride — but for Jesus, it cost Him His life. Jesus actively sought out people who were difficult to love, people most of us would rather ignore. He even died for those who despised and rejected Him. He loved people who did not love Him back (Isaiah 53:3). Are we not called to do the same (Matthew 5:44)?

I’m not suggesting you need to make a grand sacrifice. Small acts of kindness, like holding the door for an elderly person, can make a difference in a busy world where so many people are overlooked. This Christmas, and every day after, take every opportunity to show love to others, just as God showed His love for us, through the gift of Son’s life…and His death.

My friend’s story inspires me to better every day, and I hope it inspires you too.

Love you,

Amy