Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 NIV
This verse is commonly used to memorialize civil servants and military personnel who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom and peace, and rightly done. Except, this passage of scripture says nothing about the life sacrificed coming to an end. Jesus is emboldening His disciples to love one another and make love their priority however long life will last.
To lay down our lives for others is to set ourselves aside and put others first, to love others so much that our own feelings, emotions and objectives become shadowed by a world that needs grace. I’ve often used the slang phrase, “Cut me some slack.” In other words, “I need your grace, please look beyond my faults, carnal instinct and behavior and forgive me.” I need the grace of my family, colleagues and friends daily. When they set aside their natural reaction to my mistakes or misspoken words and return kindness and camaraderie, it is an act of laying down their life for the sake of mine. I don’t deserve it but need it in great proportions. Kindness, goodness, perseverance, self-control…….these things are sacrifices that can be offered in our daily walk and the world really could use it.
Christ loves us so much that His comforts, His very life, meant nothing in the battle for our eternal soul. He put us first. We must lay down our lives and put others first daily…..because it really is ‘What Jesus would do!’
Love,
Gretchen