Choosing Sacrificial Love Changes How We Treat People

Love sounds simple until it costs you something. John 13:34 sets a standard that pushes past surface-level kindness: Jesus calls us to love others the way He loves us, deeply, sacrificially, and unconditionally. That is not a vague spiritual ideal. It is a practical command for everyday relationships, family dynamics, church community, and the way we treat people when no one is watching. 

We start a new series on relationship and community by looking at the moment Jesus gives this “new commandment.” He has just washed His disciples’ feet, choosing humble service, and He is heading toward the cross. That context changes everything. Christian love is not mainly a feeling. It is a Christ-centered choice that shows up through grace, forgiveness, and steady presence. 

We also walk through simple ways to begin: listen before you speak so people feel heard, serve without seeking anything in return, forgive quickly and fully because grudges block love, and show up in both the highs and the lows. If you are thinking, “That sounds hard,” we agree, and we point to the hope that makes it possible: the same Christ who commands love also strengthens us through His Spirit. 

If this encouraged you, subscribe so you do not miss the rest of the series, share it with a friend who is rebuilding a relationship, and leave a review to help more people find the show. What is one small way you can choose love today?

Transcript

Opening Scripture On Love

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Loving others as Christ loves us. John chapter 13, verse 34. A new commandment I give unto you that ye love one another as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. John thirteen, thirty-four. Today we begin a powerful new series on relationship and community. And our starting point could not be more important, loving others as Christ loves us. John chapter 13, verse 34 records the words of Jesus Himself, A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. Now, that kind of love goes beyond the surface. It is more than being nice or polite. Jesus is calling us to love one another in the same way that He loves us, deeply, sacrificially, and unconditionally. When Jesus gave this commandment, he had just finished washing his disciples' feet. Think about that. He, the Son of God, knelt down and served them, and was about to go to the cross, and yet his final instructions centered on love. Loving others like Jesus means loving when it is inconvenient, when it costs us something, and even when the other person does not seem to deserve it. It means showing grace, extending forgiveness, and choosing kindness again and again. So, how do we love others the way Christ loves us? Here are a few ways to start. Listen before you speak. One of the most loving things you can do is make someone feel heard. Serve without seeking anything in return. Look for ways to meet needs, big or small, just like Jesus did. Forgive quickly and fully. Holding grudges blocks love. Let go. Not because they earned it, but because Jesus did that for you. Be present. Sometimes loving someone simply means showing up, being there in the highs and the lows. You may be thinking, that sounds hard. And yes, it is. But the beautiful part is that we do not do it alone. The same Christ who commanded us to love also gives us the strength to do that through his spirit. When we love others like Jesus, we reflect his light to the world. People begin to see him in us, not just in the way that we say, but in how we treat them. Thank you very much for joining me today on day 114 of faith for every day. As you go through today, ask God to help you love someone in a new way. Look for opportunities, even in the small things. And remember, love is more than a feeling. It is a choice, a powerful, Christ-centered choice. Until next time, stay rooted in the love and reflect it everywhere you go. Thank you very much for listening.