Day 23: Self-Sacrificial Love in Daily Life

Scripture:  Philippians 2:5-8 - "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!"

Reflection:  Putting others’ needs ahead of our own mirrors Christ’s love.

Application:  Prioritize someone else’s needs above your own today.

Prayer: Lord, help me to put others before myself, showing Your self-sacrificial love. Amen.

So how do we pull this off in daily life? It starts with putting others' needs ahead of our own. Simple to say, tough to do. Let’s say your buddy needs help moving the same weekend you planned that fishing trip you've been looking forward to all year. Sacrificial love might mean you’re packing boxes instead of casting lines. Or it’s your anniversary, and you’ve got plans, but your wife is overwhelmed and just needs to talk. So, you drop your plans, because right then, she needs your ear more than she needs a fancy dinner.

This kind of love is about commitment—sticking it out, being dependable. It’s about making the hard choices to do right by others, even when it costs you. And yes, you’ll mess up, you’ll fall short, because let’s face it, we’re not Jesus. But the goal here is direction, not perfection. Every day, making choices that inch us closer to the kind of love Christ showed us.