Greater love
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13 NIV
On September 11, 2001, 343 firefighters, 23 NYPD police officers, 37 PAPD police officers, 1 FBI agent, 1 Secret Service agent, 4 officers of the court, numerous World Trade Center security people and everyday citizens laid down their lives for others. As the anniversary approaches, may we remember their sacrifice and lift their families and friends up in prayer.
Jesus tells us there is no greater love than to lay down our lives. Most of us will probably not be asked to lay down our actual physical lives but I think we are also called to lay down our everyday activities that make up our lives. I joked to a group I spoke to the other evening that the modern translation of this verse would be “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down your phone for one’s friends.” It is grand (& scary) to think that we would be willing to die for someone but the harder thing may be to sit with the elderly relative, or play with a child, or listen to the teen.
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” John 15:12
Jesus commands us to love each other as he has loved us. How did he love us?
“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:1 – 8 NIV
I think many times parents lay their lives down for their children. At various times in my life, I have experienced friends and family laying down their lives for me. It is a humbling experience and an amazing gift to do that for someone. Jesus commands us to love each other and tells us what the greatest act of love is but first he tells us to abide in Him.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 NIV
We can’t love without remaining in Him.
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15: 9 -13 NIV
This spoke to my current circumstances. The Word here is a comfort and a call to further obedience. Thank you.
I love how God gives us words of comfort and obedience just when we need them.
Powerful message, Ann. I think you hit the nail on the head; I so often get irritated when talking to someone, and they constantly look at their phone. Let us lay down our life aka phones, and really be present with each other.
Thank you. We live with so many distractions that being present is challenging.
Ann, I had already pre written my post for tomorrow and I actually reference the same passage when I talk about the anniversary of 9/11. God must want us to get the point! BLESSINGS.
Wow, I love when He speaks and we listen and it all comes together.