The French Policeman

Several years ago, French police officer, Arnaud Beltrame, committed one of the noblest acts of human courage.

It happened after an armed man burst into a supermarket, shot two people and took several hostages. He was persuaded to release all the hostages but one—a terrified woman.

Then the police officer, Beltrame, calmly offered to change places with her. Nobody asked him or ordered him—he exchanged himself for the female hostage.

And unfortunately, Beltrame died in the siege.

He gave his life for that woman.

What motivated Beltrame to do such a thing?

Well, he had come to embrace Christianity and his action of self-sacrifice echoes that of Jesus who, just before His own death, said:

"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends."

Beltrame's courage was inspired by the sacrificial death of his own King.