Welcome to another daily encouragement from our daily bread.

Today's reading titled Success and Sacrifice was written by Jennifer Benson Schult.

During a summer study program, my son read a book about a boy who wanted to climb an alpine mountain in Switzerland.

Practicing for this goal occupied most of his time.

When he finally set off for the summit, things didn't go as planned.

Partway up the slope, a teammate became sick, and the boy decided to stay behind to help instead of achieving his goal.

In the classroom, my son's teacher asked, was the main character a failure because he didn't climb the mountain?

One student said, yes, because it was in his DNA to fail.

But another child disagreed.

He reasoned that the boy was not a failure

because he gave up something important to help someone else.

When we set aside our plans and care for others,

instead we're acting like Jesus.

Jesus sacrificed having a home,

reliable income, and social acceptance to travel and share God's truth. Ultimately, he gave up his life to free us from sin and show us God's love. Earthly success is much different from success in God's eyes.

He values the compassion that moves us to rescue disadvantaged and hurting people.

He approves of the decisions that protect people.

With God's help, we can align our values with His and devote ourselves to loving him and others, which

is the most significant achievement there is.

Today's Our Daily Bread Devotional Scripture reading is from 1 John chapter 3 verses 11 through 18. For this is the message you heard

from the beginning. We should love one another. Do not be like Kane who belonged to the evil one

and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brothers were righteous.

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