"Strength for Today" Devotional Book (February 18)

God's Sacrificial Love

-John 3:16

Today we continue a short study of a topic that brings joy to every Christian: God's love. Both Paul and John call His love "great" (Eph. 2:4; 1 John 3:1), because only great love would provide such a sacrifice as God did in Christ. 

We have already seen that God's love is unconditional, unrequited, and righteous. God's love is also vicarious; it bears the pain of others. In a prophecy about Christ, Isaiah wrote: "Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried" (53:4). Christ bears our earthly sorrows, and, infinitely more significant, He bore the pain and punishment for our sins.

True love is a sacrificial love that gives without expecting anything in return. God gives so many good things to everyone, and He gave the greatest gift of all, His Son. As John 3:16 teaches, love was His motive for sending Christ to die; He wanted to provide salvation for us.

Again we must examine ourselves after seeing God's love. Galatians 6:2 says. "Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ." Are you encouraging and helping other Christians in difficulty? Also, ask yourself if you love regardless of the sacrifice. Some will "love" up to the point of pain or inconvenience but no further. However, Jesus commands us, "Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men" (Luke 6:35). Love is not always easy, but it's always best.

So much more could be said about God's love. Countless books and hymns have been written about it. We can get only a basic understanding of these few paragraphs. But let this introduction serve as a starting point for a lifelong study of God's love. It's one of the greatest themes in the Bible; you can't miss it.

God's love is vicarious and sacrificial.

Suggestions for Prayer: Pray for strength to bear the burdens of others and to love with sacrificial love.