John 15:13-Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
As Jesus walked the earth, in His humanity, I believe He was able to lay down His life, completely and blemish free, because He knew the LOVE of His Father. He understood that we would ALL hunger for love but never find it outside of God. Let’s take a moment to dig deeper and learn what it means to lay down OUR life.
I have often heard people say, “I love them so much I would die for them.” I, too, have said those words. If you think about it, how many of us are ever put in a situation where either we or our loved ones must die? Yes, there are many heroes that have given their lives as an act of love. Hopefully, you and I never face a situation that intense. So, how do we demonstrate Christ’s love?
First, I think it’s important that we know the definition of love. As Christians, we must turn to the Word of God. First John 4:8 tells us, “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” This lets us know that God is the definition of love. It does not say He has love or He gives love, rather, HE IS LOVE. If GOD is love, then it is impossible to love others without Him.
Second, I would like to point out what we are seeing when love is demonstrated without its Source. In this world, what we experience is Love’s opposite. Many believe it’s hate. I dare to say it’s deeper than that. Love gives, expecting nothing in return. The opposite of that would be selfishness, which takes, giving nothing in return. Hate is the result of seeing selfishness demonstrated through the guise of love causing hearts to harden.
When Jesus stepped out of eternity, He came here knowing the pain He would suffer. He endured the cross, despised the shame, knowing the rejection He would experience. He was spit on, mocked, beaten and ultimately killed, all for the sake of LOVE!! Why? So that we could live.
I want to remind us that our loved ones do not need us to die for them. They need us to live for them. Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. I pray that we would be encouraged to saturate our minds with His Word and fellowship with Him through prayer and worship. Remember, anything less than God is selfishness. What this world really needs is the example of love that Jesus demonstrated-a death to self!!