By Benjamin H. Liles
Sacrificial, no holds barred love: is what it's called. It's the kind that sacrifices itself on behalf of others. It's the kind that led God to show us who He truly is. With that said, this is Becky Kopitzke's premise for her latest book, Generous Love. It's the kind of love that is unconditional. It puts others at the fore and makes the one who's giving it less of who they are. Paul said that this way, "I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me" (Galatians 2:20, Berean Study).
John, Jesus Christ's beloved disciple, writes of what our Lord and Savior said, "As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Remain in My love...This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends...This is My command to you: Love one another" (John 15:9-17, summarized). In other words, as fellow Christians who proclaim Christ this is the central focal point in our life: to love others, to keep others first.
Jesus Christ Himself said, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 22:37-40, New King James). All of that said, Becky does an incredible job with her book in explaining how we ought to live our lives "others first." The whole cross point of the matter stems from making God, Jesus Christ, the focal point.
With personal stories and a lot of insight that she has regarding what the Bible says I believe Becky has done a rather remarkable job explaining what it means to live "others first." If we take the life of Jesus and split it directly in half we see a man, both man and God, putting off His divine rights for the express benefit of others. Time and time again we see Him saying things such as, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner" (John 5:19, New American Standard).
Consequently, the way Christ lived His life, the way the Father, would have Him do He fulfilled to the last part of what was written as well as ordained by God Himself for Christ. He spoke encouraging, life-building words to those who desperately needed it. In that same fashion so has Becky. She shows us, in and through her book Generous Love, what it means to live a life in Jesus Christ. That dividing point -- between being a doctor to those who needed Him, as well as explaining God's word --- was central to who and what Jesus Christ is. It is no less the same for us who belong to Him.
Therefore, I honestly believe that Becky has done and given her best in showing and explaining how we are to live an "others first" mindset. It takes us off of thinking of ourselves and more on what God has called us to do: to love others as He has loved us. It is my firm belief that Becky provides her best within the pages of Generous Love as well as being the loving woman she is in advancing the Kingdom message of who Christ is.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House for an honest and fair review.