4:152 – Who Would You Die For?

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Setting

Yesterday was Memorial Day. A time to mourn and thank those who made the ultimate sacrifice defending our country. As I laid on the beach, covered in sand, a squad of helicopters flew overhead flying an American flag. It was beautiful and made me think. Who would I lay down my life for?

Many parents, myself included, would easily die to save their children or family. Others would likely do the same. Our military risk their lives for their country men and women. People they don’t know but those who are part of their country.

Then I thought of Jesus. He died not for family, friends, country men and women, but for perfect strangers across the world. He was willing to die, and did, for all of us.

Today’s Questions: Who are you willing to die for? What would it feel like if we were all willing to die so perfect strangers could live?

Scripture

• 1 John 3:16-17 – By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?
• Philippians 2:8 – And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Reflection

We have an example on Jesus on how to love. Heck, it’s one of the new commandments. While no one is asking you to die, 1 John clearly shows us what love is. Jesus died for us which is the ultimate act of love. We are asked if we see our brothers and sisters in need, as Jesus saw in is, but do nothing, how are we showing God’s love?

The second verse may seem out of place. In it, John talked about Jesus dying out of obedience. Earlier in the chapter, it tells of Jesus being God knnhiman form but showing his equivalence to God. He knew what he had to do and did it gladly and willingly. If we truly love God and want to be like Jesus, are we willing to be obident and love our neighbors and all of God’s people equally?.

As we close, let’s reflect on what it means to love unconditionally and what it would mean to die for a perfect stranger. That is what Jesus did. Let’s think on how we can live with that in mind..

Prayers

Father God, thank you for showing us what true love is. We thank you for our military and those who died for our our freedom. Help us to honor their sacrifice and Jesus’s sacrifice by living unselfish loving lives for all people. We ask your help as we find out what it would look like to live a life where we loved people so much, we were willing to die for the. We pray this in your name, Amen.