“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” (Ephesians 5:1-2)
A Brutal Crash
In Stage 7 of the 2025 Tour de France, the peloton sped towards the steep finish at Mur-de-Bretagne, the riders’ tires screamed against the pavement. Joao Almeida was acting as any excellent domestique would, putting himself in a place to shield his team’s leader, Tadej Pogacar. But with just six kilometers to go, disaster struck. A high-speed crash sent Almeida sprawling onto the asphalt, the rough surface scraping away layers of his skin as his body absorbed the brutal impact.
A Fractured Rib
Despite suffering a fractured rib and hideous abrasions covering his body, Almeida’s words revealed the heart of a genuine servant. “I have a bit of a fractured rib, but it should be okay to start in the morning,” he said to reporters, already thinking not about his own pain, but about his mission to serve his team the next day.
A Mindset to Persevere
Despite a fractured rib, the Portuguese cyclist persevered for two grueling days in the mountains, each breath and pedal stroke adding to the agony. On stage 9, he was at his physical limit. Almeida withdrew from the race, which meant Pogacar lost his primary support in the mountains.
This is the heart of what it means to be a domestique. (A French word that literally means “servant.”) These riders willingly sacrifice their own glory, their own comfort, even their own bodies, so that someone else might succeed. They endure pain that would incapacitate others, giving their all until they are completely exhausted.
Sound familiar? It should. This sacrificial devotion mirrors something far greater.
Biblical Truth
In Ephesians 5:1-2, Paul commands the believers at Ephesus to imitate God by walking in sacrificial love. Christ’s ultimate sacrifice — his death on their behalf — was to be the motivating factor and example for their ministry. Christ came, not to be served, but to serve others by giving his life as a ransom (Mt. 20:28; Mk. 10:45). As recipients of such divine love, believers are called to reflect Christ’s selfless example by living lives of daily love and service to others.
How can we serve others selflessly? Within the church, we can show love by volunteering to teach, care for children, or work behind the scenes in essential roles. Visiting the sick, providing meals, or welcoming new members are all practical ways to demonstrate Christ’s love. Outside the church, this sacrificial love might mean helping a neighbor with yard work, mentoring a student, volunteering at a local shelter, or giving generously to those in need. Whether the act is big or small, public or private, each becomes a reflection of Christ’s love when we serve with a heart to give, not to receive. By doing this, we imitate God and offer our lives as a fragrant offering, just as Christ did for us.
Kevin W. Bounds 
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