Christ walked in selfless love and sacrifice to others. This is a high calling but one that as His people, we are commanded to do. How do we walk in selfless love and sacrifice for others?

It comes from a foundation of loving God and being loved by Him. Knowing God and being known by Him. Made whole and complete in God and understanding your true worth in Him.

When we understand our worth in Him, we’re able to let go of trying to achieve what this world measures as worthy. We’re able to freely offer ourselves up and make ourselves less important than others and walk in humility because we are saved by the Lord of lords Jesus, and have been given so much more than this world has to offer.

Jesus knew His worth and did not find it a loss to walk as a servant and get down to wash the feet of man or be abused at the hand of sinners and evil men. He was looking toward the reward of future glory and saving His people for all eternity.

Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
John 13:3-5

“[Let] nothing [be done] through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:”
Philippians 2:3-9

We’re to walk in the steps of Jesus.

We recognize that this world is extremely temporal and there is nothing in it for us as His saints. We understand that our purpose is to love with the love of Christ and be lights with the true light of Christ. We’re to be salt in a world of bland emptiness and death.

When we’re full of His love and His forgiveness, and have experienced His mercy and kindness, we’re able to walk in a way that is completely abandoned to Him. We become free slaves to God and our eyes are on Him so much so that gain for ourselves no longer carries the weight in our hearts and lives that it once did.

We don’t have to be on top in this world because we have everything in Him. We don’t have to constantly look out for our own needs because we have a God who cares for us. So we can then care for others. We’ve been crucified with Christ.

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20

Because we’re secure in Him, we don’t need to act in ways that will make us feel secure in this world which leads to selfish ambition and elevating ourselves above others. This kind of love humility and selfless poured from us can only be given to others if we experience the endless love of God Himself.

When we have been saved, we see with spiritual eyes and act in spiritual ways – ways that are foreign to this world but are the epitome of who God is.

And of course, there’s sanctification. We’re constantly being molded, shaped, and refined to act in selfless love. He teaches us, He trains us, He grows us, He prepares us, and He is with us all along the way during our time on earth.

In short, abide in Him. Only then can a person give themselves as servants in this world because we’ve received all riches, love, and honour in Christ.

“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love.”
Ephesians 4:2-3

I am incredibly and abundantly blessed to belong to a man who walks in the footsteps of Christ. 

Written by Tanya