Love Above And Beyond The Call Of Duty

The phrase “above and beyond the call of duty” invokes the image of soldiers giving their lives to save others in battle, a fireman rushing into a burning building to save a child, even an employee who works far beyond their pay grade. The idea is noble, and generally one of selflessness, but it is rarely connected with love. Maybe we expect that kind of sacrificial action from love, or perhaps love is just something we take for granted. But the greatest act of love is also an action that went farther above and beyond than any other.

John 15:13 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.

The greatest form of love is one which sacrifices. It is love that motivates a person to give their life for another, to perform that act which is above and beyond. This is so much beyond the romantic love we automatically picture. This is godly love, the kind of love God has for us. Jesus personified that love when He died on the cross for us.

2 Corinthians 5:15 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

and He [Jesus] died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

Jesus’ death on the cross was the ultimate act of “above and beyond the call of duty.” His duty to us really is very little. He has blessed us with so much more than we could possibly merit. Everything bad that happens to us is still no more than we deserve. Yet His love for us was so great that He willingly paid the debt we owed so that we could live in eternity with Him. All of that was without even being asked, or wanted. He saved us while we were still His enemies.

Romans 5:8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

He died so that we could live. And some might think that it isn’t such a big feat since we are friends, but we weren’t. It is one thing to save a friend or a comrade in arms. It is another to save an enemy. This would be akin to an American dieing to save a Nazi during World War II, not only that but a Nazi who had personally reviled and insulted the American repeatedly. That is how it is with us. That is the expanse of His love.

Ephesians 2:4-5 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

Romans 8:38-39 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Have you accepted this great love? Does your life reflect one who is saved by such a love?