What does it mean to lay down our lives for Christ and for our friends? In John 15, notice Christ’s logic as he taught about sacrificial love.
First He said, “This is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved youâ€. Then He described the fullest extent of such love, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friendsâ€.
Jesus didn’t say we are His friends only if we die for Him. We are also His friends if we obey Him. In God’s eyes, obeying Him as a living sacrifice is the way we can lay down our lives for Him.
Similarly, we may not have to die for our friends. We can lay down our possessions to make provisions for the poor. We can lay down our plans or tight schedules to focus someone in need.
Such sacrifices though small can be of a powerful way to lay down our lives for other people. If we sacrifice willingly and in the spirit of Christ’ love.
This is one thing that I can say, “the closer we are to God, the bigger our hearts for peopleâ€.
