“Love and Sacrifice in the Image of God”
(Selected Texts)
Memorial Day Weekend Service, Central Park
Rev. Matthew C. McCraw
Henderson’s First Baptist Church, Henderson KY
Introduction
As Bro. Rich has already stated, Memorial Day is about remembering those who have sacrificed their lives in service of our country.
Memorial Day is a special holiday because of what it represents.
The giving of one’s life is the ultimate sacrifice that he or she can offer.
What motivates someone to lay down his or her life?
I want to talk a moment this morning about how sacrifice arises out of our unique nature as those created in the image of God.
I want to share four reflections this morning from what the Bible teaches about sacrifice and from where it comes.
Sacrifice is driven by love
Of course, we see all throughout the Bible that love is the supreme Christian virtue.
Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians that love is the greatest.
Read 1 Corinthians 13:13
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
You see, love is the driving force in sacrifice.
In fact, often when you hear members of the military speak of battle, they say that they are fighting for their brothers; for the man next to them. They develop this deep bond with their brothers in arms because of the love that God has put into their very nature, as people created in His image.
The fact that humans have love changes everything.
Love is what drives sacrifice.
Well, from where does this love come? I alluded to it just a moment ago.
Love is from God
John tells us in 1 John 4:7-8 that love is from God.
Read 1 John 4:7-8
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
You see, God is the author of love. As the author of love He has uniquely made this love available to humans because we are created in His image.
We are set apart, from all the rest of Creation, to be His image bearers. Being His image bearers means that we reflect Him and who He is.
That is why the power of love is so instrumental in our lives.
That is why love changes the world.
Because love is from God, it also changes the people of God.
We are called to be a people of love and sacrifice
As God’s image bearers, we are charged with being a people of love and sacrifice.
Again, this powerful love should change everything about us.
In fact, the love that God gives us is so strong that it can lead us to lay down our lives in sacrifice.
Read John 15:12-13
12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
You see, when sin entered the world, the image of God began to become tainted in humans. Yet, in Christ that image can begin to be restored. God is restoring His image in us through the way that we love.
Let each of us live lives of sacrifice; sacrifice that is driven by the love that comes only from God.
Love and sacrifice are seen perfectly in Jesus
Indeed, as a human, Jesus embodied the qualities that God intended for us as His image bearers.
Jesus was perfectly loving and perfectly sacrificial.
Read Romans 5:7-8
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
There is no greater love, there is no greater sacrifice than that seen in the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
Concluding Thoughts
Let us remember the love and sacrifice of others, let us be a people of love and sacrifice, and let us look to the perfect display of love and sacrifice: Jesus Christ.
As Christians, we are not only called to love, but as we will hear from Bro. Rich in a moment we are also called to fight.
(Prayer)
Invitation Comments
God has called us to display love to the world, and our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Likewise, God has called us to fight the the forces of evil; the temptations of the devil. We are to be a people of God, a people that strives for love and holiness.
You see, God created us as this type of people. However, the curse of sin is pulling is further and further away from God’s design for us. Jesus offers us the opportunity to rescue what was lost; to fix what was ruined.
John Calvin said, “…(God) admonishes us from what excellence we have fallen, that he may excite in us the desire of its recovery.”
If you’re far from God, turn back to Him. Turn to your Creator. Become who you we’re intended to be. Give your life to Jesus.
We’re going to have a song of commitment. Perhaps God is moving in your heart. Cry out to Him in prayer. Turn to Him. As we sing, if God is working in your heart pray a prayer of commitment to Him right where you are. Let’s join together as we sing.
(Close in prayer)
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