"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his
life for his friends." (John 15:13)
We
often think of laying down your life for someone else in terms of dying. That's
what Jesus did. He loved us so much He laid down His life
by
dying in our place so that we could live. But now, He's asked us to lay down
our lives in a different way. He's asked us to show our love, not by dying for
others, but by living for them.
Exactly
what does that mean?
Sometimes
it means giving our lives by spending time in prayer for someone. Other times
it means giving of ourselves with love and
understanding.
Many times it means laying down our own selfish desires in order to meet the
needs of another.
Romans
15:1 puts it this way, "We then that are strong ought to bear the
infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves." When you lay down
your life, you live to please God instead of yourself. You let your life be
guided by His love. If love leads you to the person next door, you follow. When
love calls you to intercede for someone in need, you yield.
Commit
yourself today to lay down your own life--and take up the love life. Say:
"Father, in Jesus' Name, I see from Your Word that You
were
willing to give of Yourself, in the person of Your Son, for all men. I
understand that because Jesus is Lord of my life, I, too, am called to give
myself to others. I choose to accept that calling today.
"I'll
give of my time. I'll give of Your love in me. I'll be strong and lift up those
who are weak. I'm willing to be available to be used of You so that those
around me might experience the abundant life You have provided. "You have
loved me, Lord, with the greatest love there is. I count it a privilege now to
share that love with others. I thank You for it in Jesus' Name. Amen."
Gloria
Copeland
SCRIPTURE READING: Galatians 5:22-26, Galatians 6:1-3
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