1 Peter 2:24 (NLT)
24 He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.

Philippians 1:29 (NLT)
29 For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.

2 Corinthians 4:11 (NLT)
11 Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies.

Romans 5:10 (ESV)
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

1 John 3:16 (NLT)
We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.

We know what real love is. Real love is personally carrying our sins in his body on the cross. Real love is suffering for him. Real love is suffering for the sake of others. Real love is lifting others with our lives.

None of this is in line with the world that is focused on getting what’s “mine”. It’s counter – who wants to sacrifice for the sake of others? Who wants to suffer for the sake of others? Yet, that’s what Christ did for us. He modeled the behavior in the most extreme way. It is the way we’re to live if we want to live in a world that works.

I know that real love, sacrificial love, is rare in the world. It’s rare in my life. If we want to see the change we are clamoring for, we need to step up our game to what Christ calls us to.

“The Scriptures are shallow enough for a babe to come and drink without fear of drowning and deep enough for a theologians to swim in without ever touching the bottom” St. Jerome