Jesus’ Sacrificial Love

A sacrifice is something given up for the sake of others. Anything sacrificial is connected to a selfless act or a selfless course of action.

Jesus’ love for His Father and for mankind was a sacrificial love. In order to obey His Father and to redeem mankind back to a relationship with God, Jesus became the Lamb of God (Joh 1:29, 36) who was slain before the foundation of the world. (Rev 13:8) In Bible times, the animal that was frequently used in sacrifices to God was a perfect, unblemished lamb.

Let’s see what the Bible says about such love.

We know what love is because Jesus gave his life for us. This is why we must give our lives for each other. ¹⁷If we have all we need and see one of our own people in need, we must have pity on that person, or else we cannot say we love God. (1 Joh 3:16-17 CEV)

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. (Joh 13:34 ESV)

Live lovingly, just as the Messiah also loved us and gave himself for us as an offering and sacrifice, a fragrant aroma to God. (Eph 5:2 ISV)

If you have a friend who is in need of food and clothing, ¹⁶and you say to him, “Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat hearty,” and then don’t give him clothes or food, what good does that do? (Jas 2:15-16 TLB)

But do not forget to do good and to share. For with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Heb 13:16 MEV)

So not only did Jesus show us what love is, but the Word of God encourages us to model this same type of selfless love back to a hurting and needy world.

We are encouraged to live our lives as an offering and sacrifice which is a fragrant aroma to God. We are urged to do good to others and to share food and clothing with those in need. In this way, we share the love and goodness of God with others. God bless you.

We Know Love, Thanks to Jesus

The Scriptures teach us that humanity knows love and is acquainted with love because Jesus gave up His own life to reconcile us back to our Father God.

By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (1 Joh 3:16 NKJV)

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom 5:8 NIV)

Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it . . . (Eph 5:25 NCV)

And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Eph 5:2 ESV)

All of these Bible passages refer to the fact that Jesus’ redeeming sacrifice was an ACT OF LOVE. The Lord tells us through the Word that we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Husbands are admonished to love their wives even as Christ loved the Church and sacrificed Himself on behalf of the Church. Husbands should want to protect their wives and children even as the Lord did.

And we’re encouraged to follow the example of Christ, and to become (as He did) a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. This gives us a reason to examine ourselves and to ask ourselves if we are demonstrating our love in ways that are spiritually and relationally significant to our nearest and dearest. God bless you as you allow the Holy Spirit to lead you and guide you in showing love to everyone in your life!

Can Anything Separate Us from God’s Love?

Here’s something positive to focus upon and to meditate upon. God’s love for us is stronger than any force that would try to interrupt it or stop it. His love for us is eternal, unfailing and sacrificial.

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8:38-39 NKJV)

And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. (Eph 5:2 NKJV, underscoring added)

“I made your name known to them, and will continue to make it known, so that the love you have for me may be in them and I myself may be in them.” (John 17:26 ISV)

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. (1 Cor 13:8 NKJV)

Most human beings desire and need to feel loved. It is a normal and healthy need that I believe our creator God instilled in us. And since God is love (1 Joh 4:8), He is the perfect One to fulfill the need that we have for love.

From the Bible verses I’ve included above, you can see a small sample of what God has to share with us in His Word about His wonderful love. The best way to learn about His love and the enduring nature of it is to read and to meditate upon His Word. His Word is not only His promises to us but His Word is also His will for us!

God has created each one of us to be in a loving and lasting relationship with Him. Turn to Him when you need comfort and reassurance. Pray to Him when you need human arms to hold you, help you and to comfort you. He will send you some friends or relatives who will be able and willing to meet your need for love. Glory to God!

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Christ is the Arm of the Lord

Today, our meditation is upon the term used in the Bible, “the arm of the Lord.” The arm of the Lord and the hand of the Lord have the same meaning in Old Testament Scriptures.

Wake up, wake up, O Lord! Clothe yourself with strength! Flex your mighty right arm!
Rouse yourself as in the days of old when you slew Egypt, the dragon of the Nile. (Isa 51:9 NLT, underscoring added)

The Arm of the Lord refers to the Lords’ strength and ability to accomplish whatever He chooses to do. In other words, Jesus being referred to as “the Arm” signifies His Omnipotent and proactive nature.

Another verse that explains why one of Jesus’ names is ‘The Arm of The Lord’ is John 14:13, which declares, “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” Remember, when Jesus taught us how to pray in Matthew 6:6-15, He said, “pray to the Father.” Then He said, “I will do it.” Jesus is The Arm of The Lord. He is the One who gets things done. (Source: https://www.preaching.com/articles/jesus-is-the-arm-of-god)

Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. (Ps 73:23 ESV)

Even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. (Ps 139:10 ESV, underscoring added)

And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. (Ac 11:21 ESV)

In the Prophets, we hear promises that the Lord would again save his people by his arm. And in Isaiah, in particular, the revealing of the arm in Isaiah 52:10 leads us in that section to see how God would save His people.

Isaiah 53 foretells of the Servant whose body would be offered as a sacrifice to pay the penalty of sin for his people. Moreover, Isaiah 59 informs us that no man was there to intercede and bring justice to the nations (v. 15). Therefore, God himself would bring salvation by his arm. Only now, in the fullness of this passage and in the fullness of time, we know that God did not send an arm. Rather, his arm is his Son. (Source: https://davidschrock.com/2017/12/13/the-arm-of-the-lord-from-moses-to-isaiah-to-christ/)

Because Jesus is the Arm of the Lord, we need never to be afraid. Jesus promised that He would never leave us nor abandon us (Heb 13:5). That means that the might, majesty, and power of God are perpetually with each one of His children. His protection and His blessings are upon us at all times. Hallelujah, holy God!

Imparted Power

Most of us who follow Jesus Christ don’t realize how much power the Lord has imparted to us, His people. The word imparted means transferred, taught, or revealed.

When we read the Bible, we need to think deeply about each and every passage that we read. We should ask the Holy Spirit to guide us, teach us, and to give us revelations into the Scriptures.

Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ . . . (2 Cor 2:10 ESV)

We have authority to forgive others on behalf of the kingdom of God! Think about the significance of this, and don’t take it lightly.

If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld. (Joh 20:23 ESV)

Jesus has given us the example, along with our Heavenly Father, of forgiving mankind of all sin through the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus. It is our responsibility to follow His good example and His teachings. Let’s advance the kingdom of God by being just like Him by extending merciful, and generous forgiveness to others.

And I tell you this—whatever you bind on earth is bound in heaven, and whatever you free on earth will be freed in heaven. (Mt 18:18 TL B)

We have power to bind on earth:

to truss up or tie up;
to hinder or inhibit people, demons, or calamitous events; and
to deter or prevent situations—as God directs.

We have authority to set free on earth:

to liberate (unshackle) people from bondage;
to emancipate human beings from every shame;
to release all those imprisoned by sickness, fear, pain, and the consequences of sin; and
to unshackle hurting ones from unhealthy situations and relationships.

The Lord Jesus has said clearly that He has given His followers power and authority. This is an important truth upon which to meditate, and ask God to give us insight and wisdom into it.

Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (Lk 10:19)

Later, in the book of Luke, Jesus talks again about our being given power from heaven.

I am sending to you what my Father promised, so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high. (Lk 24:49 ISV) Recognize who you are and what you have been given. Believers are children of the Kingdom, and we have been given the message of the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. It’s our job to bind or to set free the right things for the right reasons. It’s time for us to listen to and obey the direction of the Holy Spirit. Praise God!

What is Better Than Sacrifice to God?

For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. (Hos 6:6)

This Scripture verse states two things that God prefers over a burnt offering:

Mercy – God wants His people to show compassion and kindness to others, especially anyone who is in need.
Knowledge of God – God wants us to know Him, and one important way to do that is to read and to meditate upon His Word. He has given us His Word in order to allow us to learn all about Him, and about His truth.

So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. (1 Sam 15:22)

God says clearly here that obedience is better than sacrifice. He wants us to obey Him and His Word. He asks us to live in agreement with His Word and His wisdom.

To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. (Pro 21:3)

The Bible passage shown above teaches us that more than sacrifice, the Lord desires:

For us to live righteously – This means to live a holy, good, and moral life among men, a life that honors God and obeys the Word of God.
For us to do justice – This means to live with a sense of fairness to all, and to treat everyone equally. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Gal 5:14)

Priest & Sacrifice

The verses below all discuss or outline the fact that Jesus is our High Priest, and He is also the perfect Lamb of God. He gave up His own life as a perfect, unblemished sacrifice to God. With His sacrifice, Jesus purchased reconciliation to God for each one of us: our salvation.

In the Old Testament, the High Priest used the blood of bulls and lambs to pour upon the mercy seat as a sacrifice for the sins of the people. God had instructed His people to build Him a sanctuary within which was the “Ark of the Testimony” which held the “mercy seat.”

. . . who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. (Heb 7:27)

Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. (Heb 9:12)

For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. (Rom 6:10)

In Hebrews 12:24, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the blood of Jesus “speaks better things than the blood of Abel.” God was the Avenger of “righteous Abel,” but Jesus Christ, the righteous, is our Advocate with the Father, and He is the appeasement for our sins. (1 Joh 2:1-2)

The Son of God, Jesus Christ, is unique in all of time and eternity. He has done what no one else could do. He completed His mission on earth perfectly. He is the perfect Priest and the perfect atoning Sacrifice: the Lamb of God. (See Heb 3:1; 4:14; 6:20; Joh 1:29, 36; Rev 7:17) All glory to His name.

Power Belongs to God

All power and all authority belongs to God. That also means that any power or authority that anyone exercises in any position of authority comes FROM God! That’s why the Word instructs us to obey governing authorities.

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. (Rom 13:1 NIV) We’re instructed to obey all who are in authority.

By me kings reign, and rulers decree justice. ¹⁶By me princes rule, and nobles, all the judges of the earth. (Pro 8:15-16 NKJV) The Lord reminds us that He is the One who establishes kings, princes, nobles, judges, and all who are in positions of authority.

God has spoken once, twice I have heard this: that power belongs to God. (Ps 62:11 NKJV) This verse is yet another reminder from God that it is always to Him and to HIS POWER that we submit.

For all power belongs to God, now and forever. Amen. (1 Pet 5:11 VOICE) God holds and owns all power FOREVER.

Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. (Rom 13:2 ESV) If we resist authority, we resist God Himself, and we invite judgment from God. Doing such a thing is not a wise move.

Titus 3:1 implies that being submissive to rulers and authorities is the same as being ready for every good work! If you would like the Lord to credit you with performing good work, submit to and obey those who have authority over you in the world—whether in your family, your church, your community or your work environment.

God loves to bless the obedient because to Him, obedience is better than sacrifice! (1 Sam 15:22b)

We Are Servants

Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. (! Cor 4:1-2)

James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad . . . (Jas 1:1)

“These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” (Act 16:17)

. . . just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mt 20:28)

As shown in Matthew chapter 20, Jesus came to serve humanity—He came as a servant. Jesus came to reconcile mankind to His loving Father, and how thankful we are for His completed work.

The Bible tells us that Jesus is our example. (1 Pet 2:21) Since He lived to serve humanity (which means people), so also should we! Let’s admit that God saved us to empower us to serve others.

How may we serve other people in meaningful ways which bring glory to God?

Hold onto and teach others sound doctrine. (Tit 1:9; 2:1)
Perform good works/deeds for other people so that people will give glory to God for them. (Mt 5:16; Eph 2:10)
Be LIGHT in the world. (Mt 5:14) Jesus says in John 8:12 that He is the light of the world. As believers, we are to allow the light of Christ within us to shine forth to all.
Live honorably. (1 Pet 2:12)
Be faithful. (Mt 25:23)
Use your gifts, skills, and passions to serve within the body of Christ. (Rom 12:4-6; 1 Cor 12:27-28)

Living our lives as an offering and a sacrifice to the Lord—in service to others—is not only honorable; it is very satisfying. God bless you.

Accepted In the Beloved

. . . to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. (Eph 1:6, emphasis added)

And whoever offers a sacrifice of a peace offering to the Lord, to fulfill his vow, or a freewill offering from the cattle or the sheep, it must be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no defect in it. (Lev 22:21, emphasis added)

Accepted means: received; recognized; admitted; acknowledged; welcomed; understood; or allowed.

In Christ, we are accepted by Almighty God as perfected. How wonderful and awesome a gift we have been given!

As the verse from Leviticus above demonstrates, an offering (in the OT) had to be perfect in order to be acceptable to the Lord. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice, slain in our place for our sins and iniquities.

Now, we are accepted into the household of faith, the kingdom of God, and the family of God! No matter what our past may look like, what our personality is, or what our appearance is—we are welcomed by the loving arms of Jesus! Hallelujah!

Jesus invites us to come to Him in every circumstance of life and in the face of every challenge, need, or failing. He is the very embodiment of perfect, unconditional, and unfailing LOVE. There is mercy (forgiveness, kindness, humanity, generosity) in Christ’s embrace.

Know, trust, and believe that you’re accepted in Jesus and rejoice!

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