Laying Your Life Down

John 15:12-13
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.

Jesus tells us that we should love each other, but He doesn’t put the period there. He gives us the example. He says to love each other as He has loved us. We are not left guessing about what Jesus was asking us to do. He is very clear.

We are not left guessing about “what” and we are not left guessing about “how” either. We are to love each other as Jesus has loved us. Those are big shoes to fill. You and I know the full story. When Jesus spoke these words originally it could have been assumed that Jesus was maybe using a euphemism or simply a metaphor to lay your life down for those you love. But by the end of that weekend these words meant so much more to the disciples because Jesus actually laid His life down.

Before Jesus gave His life on the cross He lived in such a way that He daily laid His life down. Laying His life down was part of His lifestyle long before He gave the ultimate sacrifice on the cross. We are to love in this fashion. Willing to lay our lives down for our brothers and sisters in Christ. This is not just a onetime choice of giving your life, but this is to be a lifestyle choice. To love like Jesus loved us. And to be willing to go to the extent that He went to in loving us.

Ask yourself some questions and then spend some time in prayer and meditation on this verse:

  • What does it mean to lay your life down?

  • How can we do this in everyday life?

  • What are some specific and immediate ways you can do this today?