NKJV, John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends”.
CEV, John 15:13 “The greatest way to show love for friends is to die for them”.
NKJV, 1 John 2:5-6 “But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked”.
CEV, 1 John 2:5-6 “We truly love God only when we obey him as we should, and then we know we belong to him…If we say we are his, we must follow the example of Christ”.
We often think of laying down your life for someone else in terms of dying. That’s exactly what Jesus did. He Loved us so much He laid down His life by dying in our place so that we could live.
But now, He’s Asked us to lay down our lives in a different way. He’s Asked us to show our love, not by dying for others, but by LIVING FOR THEM.
Exactly what does that mean?
Sometimes it means giving our lives by spending time in prayer for someone. Other times it means giving of ourselves with love and understanding. Many times it means laying down our own selfish desires in order to meet the needs of another.
Romans 15:1 puts it this way, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”
When you lay down your life, you live to please God instead of yourself. You let your life be Guided by His Love. If love leads you to the person next door, you follow. When love calls you to intercede for someone in need, you yield.
Commit yourself today to lay down your own life–and take up the love life. Say:
“Father, in Jesus’ Name, I see from Your Word that You were Willing to give of Yourself, in the person of Your Son, for all men. I understand that because Jesus is Lord of my life, I, too, am called to give myself to others. I choose to accept that calling today.
“I’ll give of my time. I’ll give of Your Love in me. I’ll be strong and lift up those who are weak. I’m willing to be available to be used of You so that those around me might experience the abundant life You have provided.
“You have Loved me, Lord, with the greatest Love there is. I count it a privilege now to share that love with others. I thank You for it in Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
First Corinthians 13:4-8 paints a perfect picture of how love behaves. It’s patient and kind. It’s not jealous or proud. It doesn’t behave rudely or selfishly and it isn’t touchy. Love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
Sounds like a tall order, doesn’t it? But don’t despair. You are a love creature. God has Recreated your spirit in the image of Love. And He has Sent His Love Spirit to live in you and Teach you how to love as He Loves. You can live the love life. Why not begin today?
Scripture Reading:
Galatians 5:22-26, Galatians 6:1-3
