In 2019, Christian Shield was a 29 year-old pastoring at Christian Life Church in South West Cedar Rapids. He got information about one Matt Alexander who was in stage four renal failure, needing urgent kidney transplant to save his life. He flew down to where Matt was and donated one of his kidneys, though they were complete strangers at that time. He had acted on the words of Jesus where He said that those who have two coats should give one to him that has none. He believed that that word applies to kidney transplant as well! One of Matt’s daughters could not be grateful enough thanking him for “saving my Daddy’s life.”

“…every professing believer must arm themselves with the thought of sacrificing one way or the other.”

In our previous meditation, we learned that we are called to walk in love and that Jesus provides the template. We also mentioned one of the three distinguishing characteristics of Jesus’ love which Dr. Jim Denison refers to as inclusiveness. The next attribute of this love is that it is sacrificial. Jesus became a sacrifice for us, laying down His life even when that involved cruel death at Calvary. Our text says our love for one another should reach that degree of readiness to lay down our lives. I believe Christian Shield lived out the spirit of this admonition. Giving one of his kidneys without fear of losing his life is a true manifestation of the love of Christ. Not everyone will do what he did; but every professing believer must arm themselves with the thought of sacrificing one way or the other.