The Sacrifice of Self | Tuesday
Devotional
Love requires sacrifice. There’s simply no way around this truth. When we look at Christ’s example, we see that the greatest expression of love came through the greatest sacrifice—His life for ours.
Dying to self doesn’t sound appealing to our flesh. We live in a world that celebrates self-promotion, self-fulfillment, and self-preservation. Yet Jesus teaches us that true life and true love begin when we lay down our lives for others.
This dying to self isn’t a one-time event but a daily choice. It happens in small moments—choosing patience when we’re frustrated, offering forgiveness when we’ve been hurt, serving others when we’d rather be served. Each time we set aside our preferences, rights, or comfort for the sake of another, we’re practicing Christ-like love.
The paradox of the gospel is that in losing our lives, we find them. When we surrender our self-centered agendas, we discover a deeper joy and purpose than self-focused living could ever provide. This is the pathway to loving beyond limits—recognizing that we cannot truly love while remaining centered on ourselves.
Bible Verse
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8
Reflection Question
What is one practical way you could “die to yourself” this week to demonstrate love to someone in your life who might not expect it?
Quote
You cannot love anyone apart from dying to yourself.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for modeling sacrificial love through Your death on the cross. Give me the courage to die to my selfish desires so that I can truly love others as You have loved me. Help me to see opportunities to serve and sacrifice for others today. Amen.