No Greater Love

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 and sisters.

1 John 3:16

In this world, we are taught to give only when you receive. We learn from an early age to earn everything, including love. However, God’s love is different. It is not from this earth but it is only found in heaven. When heaven invades the earth and God’s love penetrates the hearts of man, we are able to witness the glorious, unconditional, agape love of God. We do not have to wait until we get to heaven, we can receive it right now. It is a given that is freely given to us because of His Son.

God wants to lavish us with His love and teach us what it means to have true love that surpasses all understanding. When we grasp the fullness of His love, it changes everything. It transforms our hearts, renews our minds, and gives us the strength to walk in confidence, knowing we are cherished beyond measure. It is through receiving this great love, that we are able to love others in the same way.

Jesus demonstrated the greatest example of love as He laid His life down for us when He willingly walked to the Cross to die for our sins. He did not have to do this for us but His love was so great that He thought of the joy set before Him as it says in Scripture, “...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God,” which Christ accomplished in order for us gain access to a relationship with the Father and eternal life (Hebrews 12:2).

Jesus was selfless, only doing the Father’s will and enduring suffering for us when we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). Christ does not call us to live for ourselves but for God and others which are an extension of Himself. The Bible says, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends,” (John 15:13). We are called to lay down our lives for God’s image-bearers with no exceptions. It goes on to say in verse 18 that we should not love with just speech but with actions and in truth. We must show people we love them.

There is truly no greater love than to lay one’s life down for another. This requires sacrifice, obedience, empathy, and full submission to the Lord. If we are not attentive to the Spirit’s leadership and guidance, we will let people down and not show up for them as we should.

Yesterday, my sister was sick and had to stay home from work. I felt the Spirit leading me to make her soup while I took care of her newborn daughter. I washed the dishes, fed her 2 year old when she got home from school, and did whatever was necessary that day. I stayed at her house later than I would and felt a deep sense of the Father’s love for her that led me to care for her through service. It was not to gain anything or boast but merely to serve someone I love. It was Christ’s love for her that encouraged me to show her with my actions that she was loved. It was through my revelation of her being a daughter of the Most High King, that I died to myself and met her needs. It was not me but Christ who lives in me.

I share this anecdote to give you a tangible example of what God’s love looks like. I pray that you are encouraged to love someone boldly and sacrificially, with honor and respect. It will require that you die to yourself every moment and rely fully on the Lord. We can do nothing apart from Jesus.

My love note for you is to ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and give you the strength, love, and heavenly perspective to love people better today. Just like Jesus.