Perhaps a silly question, but why are we so moved when others sacrifice themselves? I would suggest many are selfish and look out for self, or they buckle under pressure. So, when we see another rise above self-interest, we take notice.

I think most of us would agree that not everything is worth giving our lives. We might not see eye to eye on which causes and dreams to die for, but most of us would surely die for something. At least, we hope we would.

As much as I admire those who pay the ultimate price for something they believe in, there is One Whose sacrifice is greater than all. Read along as the Bible tells the story of our Lord’s love and supreme sacrifice for everyone. Notice how we are the ones who benefit by His death.

At some point sin enters the life of each accountable person and when it does we become the servants of sin (Satan). Jesus said in John 8:34, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.” This is a terrible and hopeless bondage because no sinner can fight his way to liberty. Jesus died to release us from this bondage.

Hebrews 2:14-15 – Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Jesus gave Himself for our sins, and by His death He delivered us from the evil age. We can do nothing about the guilt of sin on our own, so Christ paid the price for us. He has given us peace in forgiveness.

Galatians 1:3-5 – Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
It is horrible to think we are God’s enemies, and yet that is what sin does to us. God is truth, righteous, and full of spiritual light. John said “in Him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5) We cannot be in fellowship with God while walking in darkness. (1 John 1:6-7) Christ died for us while we were in this state.

Romans 5:8-10 – But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Jesus also died so we can be born again and become new creatures with eternal blessings. The old man of sin cannot continue if we want to please our Savior. Christians make the choice to put these in the past and to fully serve our Lord.

Romans 6:4-7 – Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin.

Finally, if Christ died for us we must be willing to die for Him. We cannot possibly do all that He did for us or repay His great sacrifice, but as a faithful servants we give our lives to His service.

Matthew 10:38-39 – And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

Terry Starling