What sacrifices have you made in life?
Sacrifice is a big word, yet everyone can make sacrifices—whether big or small, and whether for others or for themselves.
Love is the fuel of sacrifice, and sacrifice is often driven by unconditional love and righteousness—an act born of conscience.
Though we live in a broken world, I still see sacrificial love in families, between friends, and for one’s country. But dying for complete strangers is perhaps the rarest form of all.
Many years ago, I saw a man jump into a stormy sea to save several children who were unrelated to him from drowning. The man saved one of the children but drowned in the rescue. He was survived by his wife and two young children. The story shocked the city. As the Lord Jesus says: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). This man’s love was even greater, for he died for strangers out of pure benevolence. I have never forgotten him.
Not all sacrifices involve dying for others. But whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much (Luke 16:10). You can begin with small sacrifices for others.
My mom was the role model of sacrificial love for her children. Just to name a few examples: she didn’t eat much so that her children could eat more; she didn’t spend money on herself but on her children; and she did all the housework just to give her children more time to study.
Influenced by my mom, I dine out less, travel less, and do more with less to save money to help the poor. I spend my leisure time on volunteer work to help those in need. These may appear to be sacrifices for others, but they are indeed gifts of grace bestowed on me by God—for being able to make sacrifices for others is itself a privilege.
The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, continues to inspire me to love others. Jesus did not come into the world to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28).
Love is the fuel of sacrifice, and Jesus’ sacrifice opens the way of eternal life to those who believe in Him. Not only does Jesus light up my life, but He also fills me with love and a desire to love others.
✨✨💖
en yan hua fang 