“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”—Romans 5:6–8 (NIV)

In the middle of World War II, in Nazi-occupied Poland, there was a Franciscan priest named Maximilian Kolbe. He had already been sheltering thousands of refugees, including Jews, when the Gestapo finally arrested him and sent him to the darkness of Auschwitz.

One day, after a prisoner escaped, the guards lined up ten men to be starved to death as punishment. Among them, one man cried out, “My wife! My children!” And in that moment, Father Kolbe stepped forward. Calmly, simply, he said, “I will take his place.”

Locked away in the starvation bunker, Kolbe prayed, sang, and gave hope until he was the last one left alive. On August 14, 1941, the guards ended his life with a lethal injection. Yet his act of sacrificial love did not die in that cell—it still testifies that even in the darkest cruelty, love shines the brightest.

The story of Father Maximilian Kolbe has inspired generations. We feel it deep in our bones—the beauty and power of one innocent man willingly laying down his life for another. Those songs of hope he sang in a dark starvation bunker echo into eternity, because his trust was in the Savior who conquered death.

But what could lead to such a courageous act of love? It was the knowledge of being perfectly loved in Christ. Jesus, our Savior, willingly substituted His life—not for the good or the innocent—but for us, sinners. We were powerless to escape the grip of sin and death. A broken instrument cannot repair itself; it needs the touch of another hand. And so it is with us—helpless and broken—yet rescued by the pierced hands of Jesus, who died for us and offers us faith by His grace. This is love!

And what could move us to love others with that same courage? The answer is the same: Jesus’ love. My friends, loved people love people.

Pause:
Take a moment to consider what it means that Christ didn’t die for the good, the moral, or the deserving—but for the powerless, the broken, and the sinful. Think about Father Kolbe’s act of love in the face of evil. It wasn’t logic or obligation that led him to lay down his life—it was love born from being loved by Jesus. When was the last time you truly reflected on what that means for you? That the Son of God saw you at your worst, and still stepped forward and said, “I’ll take their place.”

Practice:
This week, let Jesus’ sacrificial love redefine how you love others. Start by serving someone who can’t repay you—maybe it’s forgiving an enemy, helping a neighbor, or encouraging someone who feels forgotten. Let every act of compassion remind you of the cross, where love didn’t just speak—it acted. Remember: loved people love people.

Pray: Our Father, whose justice is founded on mercy, we bow our hearts before You.

Who is like our God—who has come for the hungry, the thirsty, the poor, the naked, and the sinner? Who is like our God—who gives the bread from heaven, the springs of living water to saturate our souls, the riches of the kingdom that exalt His children to be co-heirs of the inheritance that Jesus alone deserves and who clothes us in the royal garments of Christ? You are the God who sees brokenness and imperfection and sings songs of love, drawing us to Yourself for restoration and perfecting. Truly, there’s none in the heavens or on the earth like You. Thank You, God, for Your affection toward Your people. Father, may our hearts always be stirred up in love by the good news: that You so loved the world that You sent Your only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Ignite in us an even greater passion than when we first believed. Light a fresh fire of love within us. May this fire cause us to invite many to partake in the treasure we have found in You. May our hearts continually praise You for Your love, and may we learn to see others through that same lens. Forgive us, Lord, when we have let our love for You grow cold. Thank You for Your mercy. Keep us from the things of this world that distract us from You, and grant us freedom so we may meditate on Your goodness day and night. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.