Today’s scripture: John 15:9-14 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Ben Lamb):
What in this world (or the next) could ever be more comforting that love? Jesus isn’t yammerin’ on endlessly here about some trendy way of expressing a passing fad known only during his era. Nope, not at all.
If the Son of God is willing to give up his life for us, then he must be — by his own definition — telling us that he loves us supremely.
But what about all of the people in the world who don’t know such comforting love? As Christians, we’re called to be Jesus’ representatives here on earth and to keep his commandments while guided by the Holy Spirit. So, what’s a Christian to do? Go out and sign up for a crucifixion? I think not. Talk about “thinning the herd”! What a silly notion.
I believe there are other ways through which we can “lay down our lives,” or to put it another way: make sacrifices of selfless love. [No need to roll your eyes; there’s not an exhaustive list of suggestions in the following paragraph.]
You can come up with your own ideas. What are some instances in your own life that have made you stop and say, “Wow, I’m really touched by that act of selflessness? They didn’t have to do that for me, but did it anyway, and without griping or trying to get something in return.”
One example will stick in my mind forever. Dad died unexpectedly, and no preparations had been decided upon beforehand. By the time the family left the hospital, made more arrangements and got home late at night, it dawned on us that we hadn’t eaten anything since an early breakfast. But, we were so exhausted and mind-numbed that nobody could do much except collapse in chairs and think, “What now?”
Just a few minutes later, we heard a knock on the front door. When I opened it, there stood a friend of the family with bags of groceries. He handed them to me and went back to his car to bring in more — in all, enough food to feed us for several days. All of the items required little or no preparation, too. It was modern day manna from heaven!
I am still grateful (even many years later now) for that moment in our deeply hurting and unexpectedly very busy lives when this kind friend took time out of his own hugely busy agenda to “lay down” the regular orderly schedule of his life for us.
The world is filled with people who so intensely crave the feeling of love that we, as Christians, get to tap into on an on-going basis. The supply is endless. Let us share it with all we can. This song made popular by Steve Green states it beautifully for me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AibBR6j2g54Thought for the day: I want to be alert and aware of the times when I’m called to “lay down” my life for others.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.