Ultimate Sacrifice

I’ve been thinking a lot as I’ve been watching the situation in Moncton and reading posts written by friends who live or have loved ones who live there. The deaths of those three members of the RCMP are heart-breaking, the thought of the members lying in hospital is tragic and the fear that is shutting down the city is gut-wrenching.

I want to encourage everyone though, that we live in a place that knows this is not how things are supposed to be. Those officers gave their lives in order to protect our freedom, they paid the ultimate price in order to offer us a chance to live.

I have seen facebook pages today, dedicated to popularizing the young man who is spreading this terror. There are people who hate the police because they set boundaries and limits. ~ I know that there are arguments about police overstepping their authourity and misusing their power but I also know that that is not the norm. ~

These men and women are dedicated to spreading peace and safety; protecting us from others and from ourselves.

I know that it is hard to not get caught up in the drama and I know that fear-mongering is running rampant but each one of us has a choice to make today.

Every time the photo of this sad, lost, depraved man is shared, take the time to pray for him, to pray for the families who are facing devastating loss and to pray for a nation that is struggling to accept the ultimate authority – the love of God. That’s really what’s at stake here.

The Bible tells us that the top of the list of the fruit of the Spirit is love (Galatians 5:22-23), that love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8) and of faith, hope and love, the greatest is love (1 Corinthians 13:13).

There will be pain, angst, fear, suffering, anger, judgement and heartache resulting from the events of June 4th. What can we do about it?

Instead of focusing on the choices of one man controlled by evil, let’s commit to living lives that demonstrate a love for others that lifts up, encourages, edifies and draws them closer to The One who gave the ultimate sacrifice for all.

Instead of spending so much time being angry, proving our point and demanding our way, what would happen if we loved each other sacrificially. What would happen if we considered others better than ourselves? What would happen if we allowed the power of God’s love to work in our lives, our communities and our countries?

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. 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. 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 4:7-12

Today, instead of focusing our attention on one man who is choosing to hate, let’s take a stand, make a difference and focus on those who are willing to love.

Thank you to the families of peace officers and military around the world who are willing to make a difference.

To those who are hurting today, you are in our prayers.