Holistic Leadership shares God’s self-sacrificial love for those who are lost, lonely, vulnerable and broken, and cultivates a commitment toward outreach as an expression of worship.
In Mark 12: 28-31, Jesus is speaking to the religious leaders of the day. One of the teachers of the law entered the conversation and asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” In verses 30 through 31 Jesus answers by saying “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
The perfect expression of God’s love for others is found in the person of Jesus. Jesus does not require anything from us that he did not already live out in his own person and life. Jesus modeled this expression of love to others and He has called us to do the same. We can see this self-sacrificial love modeled through the life of Christ through His compassion, respect for all, his willingness to listen and how He encouraged those in need of encouragement.
Jesus showed Compassion: Jesus was incredibly compassionate and was continually responding to the needs of the suffering. He healed the sick, broke demonic strongholds over those that needed to be set free and He loved deeply.
Jesus showed Respect: Jesus demonstrated his love and respect for all people, regardless of their status at the time. He showed tremendous respect and value for women and children, when culture did not at that time. (Luke 13: 10-17, Mark 10:13-16)
Jesus Listened: Throughout the New Testament, we see how Jesus spent time listening to the questions of his disciples and listening to the questions and responses of his enemies. The example we see from Jesus is that, He valued people by listening to them and provided responses that were given thoughtfully and patiently.
Jesus Encouraged: Jesus spent a significant portion of his ministry encouraging people towards love. Take some time this week to read Luke 6:17-49. Jesus always spent time to lift and encourage members of society that were looked down upon (the poor, outcasts, lepers, children, prostitutes and tax collectors). Aren’t we supposed to do the same?
God showed us the perfect expression of His love through the life of Jesus. We are called to share that same sacrificial love. It’s when we share that love that we are expressing the heart of the Father to those who are lost, lonely, vulnerable and broken.
What are some of the ways we can show sacrificial love to our community and the communities around us?
Has God placed a certain person, or community of people, on your heart to reach out to and show sacrificial love?
