Abundant LifeSample

No Greater Love

Whenever I read this verse, my mind immediately jumps to two war movies: Saving Private Ryan and Hacksaw Ridge. Both films are great reminders of what it means to lay down one’s life for another, and they inspire me to ask myself what I would do in the kinds of situations they depict. Could I lay down my life for someone else? Could you? I pray that God would give me such a heart of compassion for others that I wouldn’t even hesitate if I was called upon to sacrifice myself for the sake of another.

In John 15:12 ESV (just before our key verse for today), Jesus says, ‘This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.’ I love that last part: as I have loved you. What a powerful mandate! The love Jesus speaks of here is in no way fleeting or flippant like the kind of infatuation lauded by our culture. It is a deep, eternal, and unwavering kind of love. When Jesus speaks of love and says, ‘as I have loved you’, I believe He’s foreshadowing the power and commitment of His death. Not only would He lay down His life for those He loves; He would also die for those who hated Him. For us to love one another as Jesus has loved us isn’t easy. This is a serious, challenging command, but it’s a command we’re called and enabled to carry out. Ironically, in losing our lives for Jesus’ sake, we gain true life. Laying ourselves down for others leads to abundant life.

Would you be willing to lay down your life for your friends? Do you love others the way Jesus loves you? I long to grow in this area of my life. Chances are, so do you. Today’s workout includes a kettlebell. It’s heavy! Give thanks to God that He has taken away the heaviness of all your sins.

First the Word – now the Workout:

15-minute AMRAP 13 kettlebell swings

13 chin ups

13 walking DB lunges