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Hello folks. Today is 9/11, a day to remember the lives of the victims and of the heroes that saved countless lives after the attacks in 2001. This devotional covers self-sacrifice, the act of putting time, resources, or even our own lives to help the greater good of society.
Date | September 11, 2024 | Self-Sacrifice |
Verse | John 15:13 (NIV): "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." 1 John 4:19-21 (NIV): "We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister." Luke 9:23-24 (NIV): "Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.’" |
Explanation | These three passages from the Bible emphasize self-sacrifice as an act of love towards others. In John 15:13, Jesus is saying that a person showing exceptional love would be willing to lay down their life for friends, demonstrating ultimate devotion and care for others. This ties in with the idea presented in 1 John 4:19-21, where it's stated that loving God requires also loving one's brother or sister—fellow human beings. By helping each other, we are fulfilling God's commandment of mutual love and showing our love for Him. The passage from Luke 9:23-24 further emphasizes the importance of self-denial by encouraging believers to carry their cross daily (i.e., face hardships willingly) and follow Jesus, who gave up His life as an ultimate act of sacrifice. By losing one's own interests for God's sake, a person can save themselves spiritually. |
Societal Relevance | In the modern world, Christians are called upon to apply these teachings in practical ways by serving others selflessly. This may involve sacrificing time and effort to help those in need or even risking their lives if necessary—as long as it is done out of love for God and neighbor. For instance, a Christian might donate their resources to charity, volunteer at a soup kitchen, or take part in disaster relief efforts when called upon. However, the decision to risk one's life should never be made lightly or without careful consideration. One must weigh the circumstances carefully before putting themselves in harm's way and potentially causing unintended consequences for others as well. In most cases, it is better to assist from a safe distance when possible. The events of September 11, 2001, serve as an inspiring example of self-sacrifice among first responders and volunteers. Hundreds of firefighters, police officers, EMTs, and other heroes rushed into the Twin Towers to save lives despite knowing the immense risks they faced. Their actions embodied the spirit of love for their fellow human beings, demonstrating a willingness to put others before themselves—just as Jesus taught us in these biblical passages. These individuals showed incredible courage and devotion by following God's commandment to love one another, even in the midst of the most heinous terror attack of the 21st century. For myself, by the grace of God, no event has required me to step in front of a car to save a pedestrian, or jump off a bridge to save a drowning child, and 9/11 happened too early in my life (age 24 here). However, if required, I would try to muster up the bravery to save someone. It is best not to actively seek out risky scenarios either, unless one is trained in rescue response, as our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. What we can do is help others in different ways, such as donating to an organization that helps the poor, giving to a church, or donating food or supplies to homeless shelter. Time is another resource that can be sacrificed. For instance, if someone is feeling down, try to comfort him or her. If a person is stuck in the snow, spinning their wheels on the side of the street, try to push the stranded car back onto the road instead of driving by. All these things are a type of sacrifice, and are pretty easy to do, as Jesus paid the ultimate, most difficult sacrifice by dying on the cross at Calvary. |
