A Lifestyle of Sacrifice

John 15:13 “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Have you ever thought about sacrifice and what it truly means? Would you lay down your life for a friend or family member, what about someone you do not know?

First I want to share a story about a United States Marine that paid the ultimate sacrifice. His name was Corporal Jason Dunham and he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Iraq on April 14, 2004. On that fateful day, Corporal Dunham and his squad were investigating an insurgent vehicle when the driver opened fire on them. During the course of the battle the driver dropped an armed grenade that Corporal Dunham jumped on and smothered to protect the lives of his squad members. He sacrificed his life so that his fellow Marines might live.

Jesus said in John 15:13 “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

I believe the ultimate lesson we can learn from this scripture and from those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country is that we have to stop putting ourselves first. Too many times we go through life looking out for number one, stepping on and over other people on our way to the top, or just having a me me me attitude. But that is not who God wants us to be, you see sacrifice isn’t about us it’s about the people around us. It is about putting the needs of others over our own. We as believers need to live a lifestyle of sacrifice. One in which we bring the light of Christ to a dark, lost and hurting world with our compassion, love, and sacrifice. God gave us the challenge to live a selfless instead of a selfish life and put others ahead of our own. Jesus demonstrated that lifestyle of sacrifice when He willingly laid down His life for each of us so that we could be forgiven.

Will you join us and take up the challenge to live a lifestyle of sacrifice?