Writer James Bryan Smith tells the story of how author and speaker Brennan Manning came to better understand the deep love of God. Brennan had a best friend named Ray. They hung around, double-dated, and even bought a car together. In time they enlisted and served in the same military unit.
One day the two friends were in a foxhole talking when a hand grenade landed in their midst. Ray looked at Brennan and quickly jumped on top of the bomb. It exploded and killed him instantly. Sometime later, Brennan went to visit Ray’s mother. He asked her, “Do you think that Ray loved me?” She replied by saying something to the effect of, “What more could he have done for you, Brennan?”
Ray had shown he loved his friend more than he loved his own life. And his actions helped Brennan realize just how deeply Jesus loved him. John wrote, “We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us” (1 John 3:16).
Yes, Jesus laid down His life for His disciples, for the world, and for everyone (John 10:1-18, see also John 3:16-17). Prior to His death, He said, “Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:12-13). He was a living example of this teaching in not only giving up His physical life, but in how He routinely laid down His life by humbly, compassionately serving the disciples and others with whom He came into contact (Philippians 2:3-5).
Empowered by God working within us, we’re called to lay down our lives for others. This includes sacrificially giving of ourselves—our time, possessions, plans—out of love for God and for them. May we humbly lay down our lives for Jesus’ sake today.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Genesis 29:14-30
More:
Read 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16 and consider how Paul laid down his life to share the gospel with others.
Next:
What sometimes holds you back from laying down your life for others? How can thinking about Jesus’ act of supreme sacrifice help you do so?
godlove on January 19, 2017 at 4:15 am
That is a very powerful story about true and sincere love, Marlena. Love which doesn’t look for personal interest, rather putting the other’s welfare above self. Thanks for this piece today on the topic of laying down our lives for others, it is really very timely for me. I have been wrestling lately with precisely those questions in the “Next” section. When I imagine some people’s ingratitude, or even worse, how they will most probably take it for granted when I humbly render services or make certain sacrifices for them, it makes me hesitate very strongly. However, as you rightly point out, we are called upon to be imitators of Christ, who died to save us while we were still enemies of God (Romans 5:10). He didn’t sacrifice His life for good people, He did it for sinners! So why, oh why, would I be selective about who I make my tiny little sacrifices for??
gagirllive on January 19, 2017 at 6:41 am
Doesn’t surprise me one bit that we had the same train of thought, friend. 🙂 How conditional my love is!
Marlena Graves on January 19, 2017 at 6:26 pm
Yes, our love is conditional may we move more toward unconditional love.
godlove on January 20, 2017 at 2:05 am
Indeed, we do, sister, no surprise really 🙂 Like Tom and hsnpoor both write, below, we need the power of the Holy Spirit working in us to help us truly and fully develop that unconditional selfless love.
Marlena Graves on January 19, 2017 at 6:24 pm
I hear you. I aspire to be more selfless. I think it takes practice, especially when I don’t want to, I have to just put one foot right in front of the other.
Gary Shultz on January 19, 2017 at 6:08 am
Hi Marlena: Good story and good point, as Godlove says it points out areas we need to strengthen ourselves. I enjoy a good twist now and then, so, a little different thought. Very few things in life are decided as quickly as the decision Ray had to make. I’m not saying we should make snap decisions; however, as they say “the devil is in the details”. I often find myself procrastinating, trying to rationalize, and throwing road blocks in the path of a decision. Life usually gives us time to stall and soften up the situation until we see an easier, selfish route. By and large I am also a show me guy, much can be said, but doing the right thing, following the path of God’s request is a different way. Ray did it in an instant, yes or no, two dead, one dead, wow. I would like to think he had some mental path, some rehearsal for this event, possibly he was just a fast thinker, I don’t know. Most of us will never be required to do what Ray did, but we will be required to live each day every day as a living sacrifice for God; sometimes a little more enduring. We may even be like the parable of the two sons, but the important point was the one who did the Father’s will. As the say, you can’t always “judge a book by it’s cover”, but you can see Christ in a surrendered, willing life. Thanks Marlena
gagirllive on January 19, 2017 at 6:47 am
“I often find myself procrastinating, trying to rationalize, and throwing road blocks in the path of a decision.” Oh, how I identify with that statement, BWO! When it comes to laying down our lives, why do we look for a way out rather than a way in?!!
Marlena Graves on January 19, 2017 at 6:28 pm
Gary, I think you might be right and it goes along with Dallas Willard’s thinking. I have thought about that before. I think Ray probably practiced being loving and selfless throughout his life so that he could make that decision in an instant. So, I am taking your twist of a road hypothesis. I agree.
Marlena Graves on January 19, 2017 at 6:30 pm
I also think, that Jesus practiced a thousand deaths, his final one being to ask the Father to remove “this cup” from him, and when the Father didn’t remove the cup from him, he died once more before he physically died. It was constant submission and death to his own way so that he could die on the cross for our sins.
gagirllive on January 19, 2017 at 6:34 am
Hi, Marlena. This really strikes at the heart of me. Right now I am studying the book of Matthew, and I find your post to run parallel to what Jesus speaks about in chapter 5. Regarding the Law, He addresses several things by saying, “You have heard that it has been said…but I say unto you…” The smug religious leaders thought that they kept the Law strictly only to hear that Jesus raised the bar. He basically said to them that it is not enough to keep the letter of the Law but the spirit of the Law as well. So murder is something committed in the heart when we hate. Adultery is committed in the heart when we lust. And here is where I see the parallel to your post (in case you were wondering 🙂 )—sacrificial love to the point of laying down our lives is more than physically dying for someone. It begins in the heart. It’s dying to self to serve the other person regardless of how they respond. It’s demonstrating love to the one who does not hold the same affection or appreciation for us. Laying down our lives for the love of another isn’t as easy as lying on a grenade or taking a bullet for someone. Once again, Jesus raises the standard by saying that it encompasses humbly giving up our lives for the benefit of others in ways that costs us death to our selfish and prideful selves. Loving when it’s inconvenient. Loving when it’s time consuming. Loving when it’s costly. Loving when it isn’t appreciated or reciprocated. Even loving our enemy. That’s what Jesus did for us…and so much more. Lord, enable us to love this way! It’s ONLY through Your power that we can. Thanks for this convicting and inspiring post today, Marlena!
hsnpoor on January 19, 2017 at 4:09 pm
“While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”…..Romans 5:8. We can want and will to do, but only by the power of the Holy Spirit will the doing be manifested in us to make God’s Will a reality in our lives and the lives of others. May it be so, Lord, may it be so…..
Marlena Graves on January 19, 2017 at 6:35 pm
Absolutely. Without the Holy Spirit, we can’t do it.
Marlena Graves on January 19, 2017 at 6:34 pm
gagirllive – so well said. Thank you!
rkb60 on January 19, 2017 at 8:46 am
Today’s story is powerful, and takes what Jesus said to its final meaning! But putting others first is what I think this means, somthing we can do often that doesn’t require us give up life itself. Otherwise it can only be done once! Putting others first can be a good way to live and help many!
Marlena Graves on January 19, 2017 at 6:31 pm
I don’t know if all of us will be called to give up our life, but if we are practiced in putting others first, then I think we will not hesitate or procrastinate when the time comes.
Tom Felten on January 19, 2017 at 10:14 am
As this poignant illustration reveals, true sacrificial love requires sacrifice. I’m so grateful we have Jesus’ example to follow and the Holy Spirit working within us, for left to my own I would not naturally possess means to love or sacrifice well. May God continue to help me see things by His perspective, not my own!
hsnpoor on January 19, 2017 at 4:10 pm
Yes, and Amen!
Marlena Graves on January 19, 2017 at 6:32 pm
Agreed. On my own, I’d come down off my cross to live for myself and not anyone else.
hsnpoor on January 19, 2017 at 6:47 pm
Ain’t that the truth!