Devotionals for the Heart: The cost Jesus paid because of His Love for us

The Cost of Love
A devotional by Essie Faye

“Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.”

—Hebrews 5:8 (NLT)

I first heard the expression, “easy to love”, many years ago. As I’ve matured, I’ve realized that love is neither easy nor free. It costs us dearly to love.

Love requires sacrifice. I’ve learned this as I’ve navigated my relationships over the years. True love requires thoughtfulness, vulnerability, kindness, understanding, compromise, clear communication, and service to the person you love. Love costs, but it is worth it. After all, in the words of Alfred Lord Tennyson, “It's better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved at all.”

Jesus Christ sacrificed for us. His love for us moved Him to give His life in order to save us from the original payment due for our sins. The Bible says in Romans 6:23 (KJV), “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” A cross represents faith, commitment, principles of Christ, and most importantly the sacrifice of Christ for humankind. A cross has the international significance of suffering and sacrifice because of love.

True love is both valuable and costly. It is not without sacrifice. Because Jesus loves us, He gave up a very valuable thing: His life. He willingly died on the Cross at Calvary for us to pay the wages of sin, that was our debt, in full. We were His enemies (Romans 5:10), yet He died for us (John 3:16)! Christ’s love for us is unconditional and unchanging. It is impossible to understand why Christ would love us mere mortals as He does. Yet, I am grateful.

In Hebrews 5:8-10, the Apostle Paul reintroduces Jesus Christ. Paul highlights the Gospel message beautifully as he details that Jesus left His Throne in Heaven to become a man on Earth (Galatians 4:4-7). Jesus left His position of royalty—as the Creator of the universe—to become one of us. And He chose to suffer beyond words and die a cruel death on the cross so we could be reconciled to Him (John 3:16-17). He doesn’t want to live without us.

Though Jesus was the Son of God, He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. His suffering perfected Him and prepared Him for God’s purpose and plan for His life. Christ’s choice to suffer speaks volumes about how deeply and passionately He loves humankind. He was willing to pay the cost of His love in order to save us from eternal death and permanent separation from God.

Have you considered the cost of your love for Christ? Is there tangible evidence of your faith walk? Does your love for Christ move to you please Him? Do you obey the Bible in loving your neighbors and enemies like God loves us? What has your faith walk cost you?

Walking by faith is a journey of sacrifice and at times, suffering. Like Christ, our suffering propels us into our purpose and life’s calling. Scripture assures us that if we suffer with Christ, we will also reign with Him. The cost of love will be rewarded in this life and in the life to come.

Call to Action:

Step #1: Examine your love for Christ. Assess your level of commitment to your faith by looking at your actions and inactions.

Step #2: Count the cost of your faith walk. Do you believe that your relationship with Christ is worthy of the sacrifice and suffering required?

Step #3: Practice gratitude for the ultimate sacrifice of Christ. When someone gives you a gift, it is polite to say, “thank you.” Praising Jesus, in return, is offering thanks for His sacrifice. Praise Him often because He deserves it.

Step #4: Share the Gospel message with others along with the love of Christ. Practice kindness to neighbors, friends, and strangers. They will see your good works and glorify God.

Remember: God proved His love for humanity by sending His only Son (Jesus Christ) to redeem mankind. Christ proved His love for humankind by sacrificing His life for us. Will you reciprocate that love by giving Him your heart, repenting of your sins, and living for Christ every moment of your life?

Let’s Pray:

Dear Heavenly Father,

You sent Jesus Christ to redeem mankind. You continue to profess and prove your love for us each day. Your love for us is incomprehensible and overwhelming at times in a good way. Even when we don’t reciprocate your undying adoration, you still love us. Father, we thank You. You’ve loved us in good times and bad times. Thank you, Lord! Some of us are suffering and going through tough times. Help us to see your hand in our difficulty. Help us to know that You are always there because You promised to never leave us or forsake us. Help us to reciprocate your enduring love and walk closely with You. May we feel loved, accepted, and protected by Your love. Thank You for hearing us and answering our prayers.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “You Deserve It” by JJ Hairston and Youthful Praise. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “For the Sake of the Call” by Steven Curtis Chapman. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Essie Faye is a woman of faith. 

She’s a bilingual author, educator, speaker, psalmist, and interpreter.

Essie is the author of the “Finding the Love You Deserve” series for women and teens. She is deeply committed to motivating minorities, women, and youth to heal themselves, love and accept themselves, and pursue God while chasing their dreams and carving out their life’s path.

Essie is a Chicago native.

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Connect with Essie:
Website: www.essiefaye.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_essie_faye/
Read Essie’s YouVersion Devotion Plan here: http://bible.us/r/Abn