In 2011 an earthquake and tsunami caused a catastrophic meltdown of three nuclear reactors in Japan. A massive evacuation ensued, displacing thousands, with a 20-kilometer radius marked as an “exclusion zone.”
The cleanup process commenced 5 months later, and 45,000 workers joined the efforts. In 2014 Japanese officials reported that they were dealing with their first case of a worker contracting cancer (in this case, leukemia) due to exposure to radiation. Though the health ministry recognized that workers were encountering intense radiation levels, they believed there were “no discernible health effects . . . to be expected.” They were wrong. The workers unknowingly risked their own lives to alleviate the hazards facing others.
Jesus knew that the shedding of His blood on the cross was required as “a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many” (Matthew 26:28). He held nothing back from us, refusing to cling to His own life or rights and privileges as the King and the Son of God. Rather, “Jesus gave up his life for us” (1 John 3:16). He wasn’t coerced into this perilous act, but gave Himself freely, saying, “No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily” (John 10:18). Jesus gave Himself all the way to the bitter end, for this is the heart of God: to give, to rescue, to love.
Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection provide more than the assurance of God’s sacrificial action toward us. They also serve as our example of how He intends each of us to lay down our lives for one another. “Let’s not merely say that we love each other,” John says, “let us show the truth by our actions” (1 John 3:18). May we always pursue the good of others, even as our good God has pursued and loved us.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Luke 16:1-18
More:
Meditate on John 10:17-18 and consider the depth of Jesus’ love for you in that He gave His life freely, gladly, and voluntarily.
Next:
What does it mean for you to embrace Jesus as the One who laid down His life for you? Is God calling you to sacrificially help someone in the name of love?
Gary Shultz on August 16, 2016 at 7:07 am
I have to say Winn, the blog today is difficult for me to stuff in an answer. All you said is true, it is like for the human race the cross was our “ground zero”. All sin was paid, past present and future, mind boggling in itself; the shadow, the event, the victorious hope. Yes, motivated by a love that I hope we get to understand better when home, but a love that is still the force of our spiritual existence. To love other people we must share love, to share love we must understand Who and why we have it, and why we should share it. Once we understand the who and why, as you point out, we have reason to duplicate that love. Well placed is the statement “let us show the truth by our actions” as those who cleaned up in Japan, those who have served in our military, those first-responders, fire, police, nurses and many others who have chosen to make their lives count for others, may we make our lives count for Christ. Thanks Winn
Winn Collier on August 16, 2016 at 4:55 pm
there are a millions ways to demonstrate love, this is surely true
Tom Felten on August 16, 2016 at 8:05 am
Winn, it’s amazing to me that Jesus knew the pain and separation from His Father that was coming and yet pressed on toward the cross. What amazing love!
godlove on August 16, 2016 at 1:11 pm
Truly amazing is His love, Tom. Not only did He press on towards the cross in full knowledge of the pain that was coming, but more to that, He knew He was going to suffer and die this way for unworthy sinners!! As Romans 5:7 puts it, “Most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good.” Yet, Christ our Saviour died for us sinners. It’s very humbling indeed, and I think nothing can ever compare to the Love of God through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. May God’s Name be praised! Thanks Winn.
gagirllive on August 16, 2016 at 8:28 am
Amen, Winn. Real love. The definition is sure up for debate these days. I’m so grateful that the Bible clearly defines it and that Jesus unequivocally demonstrated it. He paid the ultimate sacrifice for us “while we were still sinners”—while we had no appreciation for Him or what He was doing. No greater love has ever or will ever be given to mankind. Yet we who have received Him are called to love like Him. Impossible on our own. Very challenging even with the Spirit’s enabling. Jesus died once—for all and for all time. Ours is a daily dying—often a moment by moment dying—to self so that the life and love of Christ can live through us. “Self” is the sacrifice we must offer up in order to give real love. It will always cost us to love like Jesus. In my limited experience, sometimes loving like that has been inconvenient, messy, time-consuming, uncomfortable, exhausting, and costly. But, like Jesus, it has never been coerced. I willingly chose to love. Real love isn’t perfected in me yet and won’t be until I get home, but I’m grateful for the opportunities Jesus gives me to practice down here. With every practice I think this ugly mug starts to look a little bit more like Him. 🙂
Thanks for this encouragement today, Winn. Grace and peace to you and to everyone who drops by today.
Winn Collier on August 16, 2016 at 4:55 pm
Love is often costly, isn’t it?