For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
Some refer to February as Love Month. Tomorrow we in the United States will celebrate Valentine’s Day. Fifty-eight million pounds of chocolate will be purchased. Roses—224 million of them—will be gifted. Romance is in the air. But is this yearly display truly love in its purest form? Or are we missing something?
There is only one source for the definitive answer: Scripture. And in those pages, there is incontrovertible proof that love equals sacrifice. Not great news for romance writers like me, but the best news ever in real life.
Consider the entire 53rd chapter of Isaiah, which talks about the Suffering Servant. Verse ten states: Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When you make His soul an offering for sin… and on it goes. In the original language, the word ‘pleased’ carries a sense of satisfaction, pleasure, and delight. So…the Father is delighted to see the Son tortured? That’s love?
Of course not. God never delights in pain. Except that in His economy, our redemption outweighs the suffering. Which makes suffering the highest form of love. This translates to our personal lives as well:
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay his life down for his friends.
John 15:13
For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?
Matthew 5:46
Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church. He gave His life for her…
Ephesians 5:25
How does this translate to the world of missions? Because many see mission travel as a glamorous pursuit. “I’m jetting off to Dubai,” “I got this fab purse in Thamel,” “We went off-road for two hours through a river and into the Himalayas” is the stuff of adventure. And it is. How is that sacrifice? Where’s the love?
When God calls us to any endeavor, it is an adventure. It is exhilarating. And it is a sacrifice. Mission travel to exotic locations is expensive. Rule of thumb around SEAPC is airfare + $100 per day. Destinations in Asia can come in at $1,500 flights with $1,000 for in-country expenses. That doesn’t leave much for personal goodies like purses or scarves. It is a financial sacrifice.
Two weeks off work either uses vacation time or is without pay. For the retired traveler, it still is time taken out of busy schedules. Add in kennel fees, missed family occasions, and household needs. It is a family sacrifice.
Accommodations are rudimentary, food is unfamiliar, travel is grueling, basic functions may involve squatting rather than sitting—these are personal sacrifices.
Why even go? Where’s the glam, the fun, the love?
There is never a more clear vision of love than turning to somebody and offering healing, sharing your lunch, or praying for restoration and watching God perform a miracle. The action of love becomes the feeling of love. Not for our glory, but for His.
Our culture perceives ‘sacrifice’ and ‘suffering’ as events to flee. Jesus knew them as deeds to embrace. He showed us by his life what it means to love well. And we are left with plenty of scriptural references to learn this skill for ourselves.
Take a few minutes. Close your eyes. Think about a time when you felt most deeply loved. Chances are good that it involved sacrifice on the part of the person who loved you. Maybe it was candy, purchased by a child from their piggy bank. Flowers that replaced a month of Starbucks’ purchases. Or someone dying to themselves so that you could live a better life.
When we learn to love in the same way that the Lord loves us, our active personal sacrifice for others will blossom, whether at home or in the mission field. And it will create in us a feeling that’s very like, well, love!