Let's be really clear: this is not one of my favorite posts. This post was convicting and it didn't make feel all warm and gooey inside.
This post reminded me of my selfishness.
Since Monday I've been thinking about John 15:13: "There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends." (NLT... my favorite, usually). So often we think about that verse in the context of dying. I imagine soldiers in a bunker WWII movie style, one going on a suicide mission to save the life of another. Honestly, I think (okay, hope) there are a lot of people I would die for.
But then I started thinking about who I would live for. By that, I mean who would I inconvenience myself for? That list is a lot smaller.
Tonight, I was thinking about this again in context of a particular situation. I felt like God asked, "Who would you lay down your rights for?"
Master-of-the-Universe-say-what?!
For who am I willing to give up my right to be right? My right to be understood? Am I willing to sacrifice my "right" to have things go as I planned? Who is important enough that I will lay down my right for justice or fairness?
Friends, that is tough. T.O.U.G.H! It's difficult when friends hurt you to ASSUME they didn't mean it. It's difficult to choose what you know to be true over actions. It's not easy to do something for someone else when it means you don't get to do what you want to do. It is hard to rejoice with those who get what you want and weep with those who didn't get what you did.
But isn't that friendship? Isn't that the very essence of love? That's what Jesus did for me 2,000 years ago. He left Heaven, where everything is perfect, to come here... where everything is anything but perfect. He left His seat at the right hand of God to be born in a manger, raised as a carpenter's son, mocked, ridiculed, and put to death. He was misunderstood. He was treated unfairly. His closest friends betrayed Him, yet He forgave them. He did miracles when He was tired. He loved when it was inconvenient.
I'm not suggesting we all become doormats. I'm not suggesting there is never a time to rest or to fight for justice. What I am saying is that we need to die to our "RIGHT" for these things and we need to put our lives in the hands of the Creator. We have to trust that He holds all things together and works ALL things for our good and His glory.
So come on, friends, lets go together to lay our lives down for each other. Just imagine how different the world would be!
This post reminded me of my selfishness.
Since Monday I've been thinking about John 15:13: "There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends." (NLT... my favorite, usually). So often we think about that verse in the context of dying. I imagine soldiers in a bunker WWII movie style, one going on a suicide mission to save the life of another. Honestly, I think (okay, hope) there are a lot of people I would die for.
But then I started thinking about who I would live for. By that, I mean who would I inconvenience myself for? That list is a lot smaller.
Tonight, I was thinking about this again in context of a particular situation. I felt like God asked, "Who would you lay down your rights for?"
Master-of-the-Universe-say-what?!
For who am I willing to give up my right to be right? My right to be understood? Am I willing to sacrifice my "right" to have things go as I planned? Who is important enough that I will lay down my right for justice or fairness?
Friends, that is tough. T.O.U.G.H! It's difficult when friends hurt you to ASSUME they didn't mean it. It's difficult to choose what you know to be true over actions. It's not easy to do something for someone else when it means you don't get to do what you want to do. It is hard to rejoice with those who get what you want and weep with those who didn't get what you did.
But isn't that friendship? Isn't that the very essence of love? That's what Jesus did for me 2,000 years ago. He left Heaven, where everything is perfect, to come here... where everything is anything but perfect. He left His seat at the right hand of God to be born in a manger, raised as a carpenter's son, mocked, ridiculed, and put to death. He was misunderstood. He was treated unfairly. His closest friends betrayed Him, yet He forgave them. He did miracles when He was tired. He loved when it was inconvenient.
I'm not suggesting we all become doormats. I'm not suggesting there is never a time to rest or to fight for justice. What I am saying is that we need to die to our "RIGHT" for these things and we need to put our lives in the hands of the Creator. We have to trust that He holds all things together and works ALL things for our good and His glory.
So come on, friends, lets go together to lay our lives down for each other. Just imagine how different the world would be!
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