I have been thinking about what I wrote yesterday, and something else Jesus said came to mind. In John 15, Jesus says, “ 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
When I’ve read this before, I’ve thought about first responders, soldiers, people actually throwing their physical bodies in harm’s way to save another person.
But I am finding that it means more than that. Maybe the main thing it means (since most of us haven’t had the opportunity to throw ourselves in front of a speeding bullet to save someone lately) , the main thing it means is in the everyday, mundane, dealing with those in our lives. For me, I have a little circle of people with whom I deal on a daily basis. So how do I lay down my life? I find that it’s the smallest things. I’m seeing them all the time now. I’m watching TV and Mom calls. She calls on the phone so that she doesn’t have to yell. It works for us. LOL Anyway, mom calls and she needs something. I immediately resent it. I’m watching my show. I don’t want to get up. I’m tired. I’m relaxing. It’s been a long day. It’s “Me” time now. So………there it is. My life. How do I lay it down for my friend (Mom)? I think it all starts with how I look at it. And it goes back to what I wrote yesterday about loving as we would like to be loved. And in loving others, we are loving God.
And now, although I can still be a schmuck, I’m changing. For today, just for today, I want to love. Be there for Mom. Be there for others. Don’t resent. Don’t think of myself first. Think of her first. Think of loving God. I am always saying “I love you Lord.” It’s in all the worship songs and easy to say. Easy to say. God is so good. But what does God say back? “Feed my sheep.” In feeding His sheep, in answering Leona’s call with a kind, willing voice, In getting my butt up and helping her with something or getting her something, I am loving God.
Now, I say to myself, “well, that seems like a lot of work.” But I truly believe, as we give ourselves over to the work of God in our lives, it will become easier and easier. And when I’m not kind and I’m not giving and I’m not loving, I won’t give up. I will see myself for what I am and will lay myself at the feet of the ONLY One Who can change me. The Only One Who can make me new. The Only One Who can replace my sad imitation of love with His true, mighty, glorious love. A love that can move mountains.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Love to all !!!!
