December 22
1 John
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ
laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers."
(1 John 3:16, NIV)
This is worship; laying down our lives for our brothers.
Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:21 "Submit
to one another out of reverence for Christ." (Ephesians 5:21,
NIV) When we respond to God’s great love for us by laying down our lives for others,
we are imitating Jesus. He did not respond to the false accusations hurled at
Him by firing back words of ridicule and hatred. Jesus laid down His life in
order to give us eternal life. He gave up His rightful position in order to hang
on the cross so we could enter His presence in Heaven.
Laying down of our lives does not necessarily mean we have
to die. Laying down our lives means we put aside our claim to our position for
the benefit of others. Laying down our lives means we become servants of
others. Laying down our lives means we die to ourselves daily and live for
Jesus. Laying down our lives means we imitate the love Jesus displayed on the
cross for those who loved Him and for His enemies. Laying down our lives means,
as Paul wrote; "I
have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me
and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20, NIV)
Laying down our lives is the ultimate display of love. John
wrote that our salvation is revealed by our love for God and our love for
people. We cannot say we love God and not love people. Our love for God is revealed
in our love for people. If we realize how much God loves us and the price He
paid for our salvation, it becomes easier to put aside our rights for the
benefit of others.
No comments:
Post a Comment