This is Love

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.1  John 4:10-12

This past week saw widespread devastation around the area of Australia where I live, due to bush fires.  As I write this post, many fires still burn across NSW.  It’s been a tough week for residents in fire affected areas and a tough week for fire fighters.  Most of our fire fighters are from the RFS, the Rural Fire Service and are volunteers.  Without the heroic efforts of these firefighters, I’m sure more homes would have been destroyed and lives lost.  These courageous men and women have given up their own time for people they don’t know and who they may never meet.  

I know of one young man who was out fighting the fires in Salt Ash until 3am, managed a quick sleep before leaving for school to sit the first of his Higher School Certificate (HSC) exams. (The HSC is the highest award in secondary education in New South Wales. To be eligible for the award, students must complete Years 11 and 12, satisfy HSC course requirements and sit for the statewide HSC examinations.  The results of these exams determine the students elligibility to enter certain university courses or some job positions after school).  This young man could have been studying and worrying about his future, but instead, he spent the day and night protecting the property of strangers.  No one would have thought badly of him if he had ignored the call from the RFS but instead, was prepared before the alarm was raised.

This young man giving time so generously, made me think of the generosity of Jesus.

Jesus came to this world to show His love for us.  Jesus didn’t give a little of himself, he gave 100% of himself for those who may never acknowledge Him or may even claim to hate Him.   He knew this even when He was on the last journey to Jerusalem.  Jesus was well aware of the cross before Him but it didn’t slow Him down  one bit.  And he gave of himself generously for our past, our present and our future.  

I reckon the selfless acts of these firefighters should inspire us show love to those we don’t know and to do kindness for those who can never repay us.   Even if it costs us time, energy or money, even if we don’t know them, even if they are our enemy, because that is precisely what Jesus did for each and every one of us.