Would you lay down your life for someone else?
Note: I did not say, “Would you die for someone else to live.” I said, “Would you lay down your life?”
Laying down the life you planned in order to care for others is what Jesus had in mind.
It would be easier to just die and zip off to Heaven while willing our old earthly life to someone else.
But Jesus expects more of us than that. He has work for us to do here on earth.
Jesus said,
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are My Friends if you do what I command you. “
John 15:13-14
And what did Jesus Command?
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
John 13:34
There are many ways to lay down our lives and love one another. Some people are full time care takers.
They have laid down the lives they wanted to immerse themselves into the suffering of others. They are suffering servants, as Jesus was.
Some people choose to forego getting big expensive luxuries in their own lives so they can feed and clothe the poor.
Sometimes laying down our lives simply amounts to giving up something much simpler for others … sacrificing the parking spot we thought we had nailed …letting someone else have their say in an argument where we were sure we were right … letting someone in line ahead of us … wearing a mask to protect those who may be more vulnerable to disease.
Jesus calls us to do more than “the law allows.”
He said,
“And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.”
Matthew 5:41
Jesus saw the world through Love. He loved, not just in dying, but in living a Life of Love on earth. May we do the same!
