The Laying-Down-Your-Life Sort of Love
"By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us...." (1 John 3:16)
We do not know love any other way.
Most could only guess what God meant when He told His people He loved them.
But now, He proved His love, like a Lover pursuing a bride, setting aside His glory, giving up His very life, for the world.
His love was on full display the whole time He lived here. It wasn't just that ultimate act on the cross that revealed it.
It was seen in His every response to the world around Him.
It was made visible in His mission -the will of His Father- that defined every action He did.
Laying down His life was laying down not only the physical life He had on this earth, it was also laying down His time, His resources, His comfort, His sleep, His ease, His thoughts, desires and emotions....
And the disciples watched as He did so, floored every time God lowered Himself to serve and love fallen humanity that He Himself had created.
And if God did that -then what about us?
"...And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." (1 John 3:16b)
So simple. As followers of Jesus, could we really claim a different lifestyle than the one He had? (1 John 2:6)
"Ah, but who is my brother?" You ask.
Perhaps if I made a short list for you, you would feel justified in your choice of people you are loving right now.
But is there really only a small circle of people we are called to love?
And if we are only choosing a small circle of people to love, are we really loving at all?
It reminds me of the question the lawyer asked Jesus when He brought up the two greatest commandments - love God and love your neighbor as yourself.
"And he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, 'And who is my neighbor?'" (Luke 10:29)
It's a valid question. But I think we tend ask questions like that when we are already putting a limit on how much of our lives God can have.
But Jesus didn't answer with a simple list for the lawyer to check off. Instead, he told a story.
"...'A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.'" (Luke 10:30)
The story continues, telling of priest who came by.
The moment he saw this man in dire need, he passed him on the opposite side of the road.
Then a Levite came and did the same thing.
I don't know about you, but when I see people that have too many needs, my natural inclination is to do the same thing these two did.
"It's too overwhelming," My feelings quip, "too much work. Too messy. I already have so much on my plate. I don't have extra time for this person. I have more 'important' things to do."
Or, how about this one- "I'm already meeting enough needs as a wife and mother. I can't handle any more!"
Or maybe we think something more like this: "That person is so different from me. They probably would rather someone else helped them anyways."
Whatever the "reason" (or excuse) is, we find ourselves doing exactly what that Priest and Levite did -pretending we didn't notice the need and walking on the opposite side of the road.
"'But a certain Samaritan...'" Jesus continued.
Wait.
Where is He going with this?
Samaritans are the outcasts of Israel. Is the outcast himself going to be the hero of the story?
"'...As he journeyed, came where he was...." (Luke 10:33)
He was on his way somewhere -probably just as much looking forward to getting to his destination as the Priest and Levite were. He probably had just as full of a schedule as they did.
And to top it off, this stranger from Jerusalem was likely a Jew who hated Samaritans -yet another reason to ignore such a big need. This man might reject him anyways.
But look what his response is: "And when he saw him, he had compassion."
He looked past the differences between himself and this Jew from Jerusalem, past the potential hatred he might receive from this man if he were revived, past his own list of things he needed to get to (wherever he was headed), past his own limitations, and saw -really saw- this man's needs for what they were.
This was no mere feeling of compassion. This compassion that welled up within propelled him into outward action.
"So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him." (Luke 10:34)
While the priest and Levite moved away from a need, the Samaritan moved toward it.
While they didn't want to make their hands filthy with the blood of a stranger, the Samaritan soiled his hands bandaging his wounds.
While they didn't share any of their own resources with this needy stranger, the Samaritan set him on his own animal and paid for him to stay at an inn until he was well. (Verse 35)
While they didn't offer a minute of their time, the Samaritan gave up his time and even his timely arrival at his destination to make sure this man was taken care of.
John may as well be talking about this story in 1 John 3:17-18:
"But whoever has this world's goods, and sees a brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
"My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth."
Love is no mere feeling. It is radical action that declares another's value in the eyes of God.
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We all have our people that are hard for us to love.
But these two passages make it clear that no one is outside of God's radar.
If you love a "neighbor" enough, you may just win him as a "brother." And after that, you must continue to love, laying down your life for that brother.
Every person matters to God. If we only choose some who are easier to love, but don't love others, we are not mirroring the love of God, which has no limit.
Love is meant to be our lifestyle, not just something we whip out every once in a while.
We don't need to wait to hear God command us to love those who are difficult to love -we offer to Him willing, available lives through which He can love them.
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Some only offer words to lost souls -never touching their lives by laying down their own.
This is why it is so easy for the lost to reject Jesus: He doesn't look real in our lives.
But love- the love of Jesus- is compelling.
It compels us to do more than just talk.
It compels us to show with our lives that others are worth God's pursuit of them.
And it compels them to listen.
Do you have someone in your life who doesn't listen to you?
Try loving them with your life in surprising ways.
Do the unexpected.
Do things that you know would make them feel loved and valuable.
Do things that you know they would never ask you to do.
Go that second mile.
Love them with your time and resources.
Love them no matter what they dish out to you.
And then watch as God's love softens their hearts to hear what you have to say.
That is what Jesus did in coming to this earth that silent Christmas night.
We weren't listening to His words, so He offered up Himself, the living Word -the very expression of God.
This ought to be our life's pattern. We don't give up on others -instead, we offer ourselves as proof that God loves them.
Love is limitless, so should we put a limitation on how much God can love others through us?
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Christmas teaches us that, while we tend to give up on those who don't listen to us, Love offers up Himself.
While we turn our back on those who reject us, Love moves towards them.
While we close our hearts to those whose needs are too great for us to meet, Love opens up His heart and gives everything He has to meet the need.
It is as if the very sin that drives us apart from each other draws Love in like a magnate, for it is the very goodness of God towards sinners that leads them to repentance. (Romans 2:4)
And when, after we have received Him, we sin again and again, Love offers up Himself afresh as our Advocate before the Father. (1 John 2:1-2)
So, my friends, if you find that your heart does not match this pattern, bring yourself to the One who is Love and ask Him to reveal Himself to you.
If you doubt that He could possibly love you like this, ask him to open up your eyes to the way He does indeed love you.
Meditate on the scriptures that speak of His love. There are many. And His word is powerful enough to change you!
His Love is so high, so wide, so deep, so long, that we could never measure it.
It is so incredibly beyond our knowledge that, though He wants us to experience it, we can never understand it. (Ephesians 3:14-21)
Because that's just it: It's not human love we are talking about. It is God, who is Love, who seeks to display Himself to this dying world in human form -first, through His own Son, and now through us.
Are you willing to be a channel through whom this Love can reveal Himself this Christmas season?
Then just open up your hands in surrender to Him and say, "Lord, I'm available."
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To take a deeper look at the Love of God, read my post called, what is Love?
Also, to read my previous post on Love and Light, click here.
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