Greater Love

No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

Jesus was telling His disciples that His love for them, His friends, would cause Him to lay down His life.

Not many people were called 'friend of God'. Abraham was called 'friend', by implication Moses was considered a friend and David was called, 'a man after my own heart'.

What was the character of these friends? Abraham followed God out into an unknown land, forsaking all he knew. He waited for God's promise and gave to God a tenth of his spoils in war.

Moses obey God and followed him out into the desert, on a promise of the better land. His delight was to go away and spend time with God.

David spent time with God long before he needed God, he had a love relationship with God.

Jesus showed us how to live an obedient life, he went further by dying for us. He is saying in the above scripture this is real love.

We are not commanded to go and get nailed to crosses but we are commanded to love as He loved by laying aside our desires for others.

This is the challenge, laying down our agendas for others, for Him.

Loving others is only possible as we look at Christ and see His power and confess, 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.' Amen!