Greater Love
We’ve all heard it - some of us have said it to those we hold dear to our hearts: “I would die for you.”
The Bible tells us over and over again, that love is an action, not a feeling, and some consider this to be one of the greatest declarations of love - to give one’s life over for another just as Jesus did for us.
In movies, we see this theme often; my mind immediately imagines a medieval scene unfolding: the hero steps up onto the battlefield. His eyes are hard and focused on the enemy across the way; his grip tightens on his weapon, which is drawn and ready for clashing and blood. All is still and yet, the air hums with anticipation. Then our hero, with a fierce roar, thrusts up his weapon and all charge into the fight.
Just about every person on that field is fighting for something or someone they love, and most are willing to lose their life to defend it. These movies portray it as one of the greatest sacrifices; books describe it as one of the most selfless acts. In fact, in John 15:13 JESUS tells us that, “greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
Some of us, especially those with warrior spirits, hold on so tightly to this. There is such truth and bravery to what IS such an act of love.
And yet, I felt a pull in my spirit as I ran my fingers over the scripture. Though the words were flat on the page, I could feel more behind them. God was reaching for my heart and I knew it was time for another lesson. So I kept reading until I came across this excerpt from 1 John in my Life Application Study Bible and knew I found it:
“Sometimes it’s easier to say we’ll die for others than to truly live for them. This involves putting others desires first.”
As I read this, internally my head filled with the sounds of tires screeching across pavement as I mentally slammed my brakes hard. I’m laughing as I type this dramatization of what was such a quick little moment, but God had something to say to me so I knew my “little car” needed to stop immediately. (Because the truth of it is that I already took the wrong turn miles ago, and God was that kind and patient voice of my GPS telling me to, “recalculate”)
With scenes of great battles and images of warriors that so often surround us, I think we forget about how one of the greatest acts of love is a daily, continuous surrender of ourselves for others. It may sound small when compared to swords and battle cries, but I can admit that, with the allure and comfort of my selfishness, sometimes it’s been the hardest thing I do in a day.
To truly LIVE for someone…God, I have to ask, can you help me understand what that actually means? I think I missed that turn again…
I felt these words poor into my heart:
To live for one another daily is to embody this sacrificial love in our interactions, choices, and relationships.
It requires a willingness to prioritize others above ourselves, putting their well-being and happiness before our own desires. In doing so, this is how we mirror the ultimate act of love demonstrated by Christ on the cross.
In other words - it’s not a one time act; we do not have to physically die for someone to love them well, but it’s a dying- to-self DAILY so that, in this, we are actually living out the life Jesus called us too. It is death to the desires of our flesh - our old life that Jesus freed us from.
The wording can feel confusing but is as simple as this: it might be found in the quiet moments of support during someone's hardship - even if we feel tired from work that day. Or patient listening when a friend needs to share their burdens, even if you have to create extra time for them. Or perhaps it’s this big one: the willingness to forgive when hurt runs deep.
The apostle Paul further brings to light the nature of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, describing it as patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not proud, not self-seeking, not easily angered, and keeping no record of wrongs. This scriptural definition reminds us that love is an ongoing, intentional commitment to others, marked by humility and forgiveness. (Maggie wrote a beautiful Reach here that dives deeper into this rich scripture - please give it a read)
If you are a person who, like me, tends to sweep yourself aside or go with the flow around you, this isn’t an invitation to let yourself fade away by bending to whatever people want from you. Jesus doesn’t call us to be a pushover for others. It’s not “people” that fill this space in your heart, but, as you empty your heart of “self,” you make more room for God to radiate within you.
So in this, God is your guiding light to loving others well. Thank goodness we don’t have to do it all on our own.
With God at the center of your life, there is a radical shift in priorities. Galatians 2:20 speaks on this, with the apostle Paul declaring, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Galatians 5:13 also echoes from a similar vein in this:
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
*Photo credit | Elizabeth Gadd Photography
