Pamela Polanco penned our devotional this week! Stop by the contributor’s page to learn more about her.
Lately, our world has been plagued by commercialized love (the one we express through gifts and notes). It is certainly good to show love. However, this kind of love requires little sacrifice on our part, but if it did, we might reconsider our affections. This shows that the emotion the world speaks about is incredibly superficial, while Bible speaks of a love that is entirely different.
In John 15:13, Jesus said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life down for his friends.” This passage might make us think of those on the front line who often make the ultimate sacrifice with their life. This kind of love is selfless —it withholds nothing. In the passage, Jesus is foretelling His disciples the extent of His love. Thankfully, not only Jesus verbalized the depth of His love, but He gave a tangible proof shortly thereafter.
Before Calvary, the Lord endure a mentally wearing time in Gethsemane. In the hours leading to the Crucifixion, He was likely consumed by the foreknowledge of what would transpire at Calvary —the pain, solitude, and humiliation— and yet He was ready to go forward to redeem His friends. He was willing to experience the fullness of human fragility and suffering —determined to lay down His life for those He loved.
In contrast, it is evident that we live in a society that screams the opposite of selflessness. Our love for God and others is not a priority. However, that is not God’s model of love, for Christ was the manifestation of it, and He is telling His disciples that true love is entirely sacrificial. What, then, should our response be to Jesus’ declaration?
Before expressing that selfless love to the disciples, Jesus commanded them to love one another. To achieve this, He charged them to abide in Him. Jesus is the greatest display of the Father’s love, and He is saying, “abide in my love.” Jesus’ love was selfless, humble, and genuine —for although He could take, He gave; although He deserved to reign, He served; although we didn’t reciprocate, He cared deeply, unto death. He is commanding us to love like He loves.
Christ’s love is like no other —entirely giving and selfless. He calls us to a love demonstrated through actions, one expressed through service and sacrifice. We can only show this love once we have experienced the Father’s love. Once transformed, we abide in Christ, and then His love overflows from us and is expressed through acts of service for the benefit of those around us.
Friends, as our eyes are seeing the decorations, bouquets, dinners, and celebrations around us, let’s not lose sight of real love —one willing to place personal needs and desires in a second-place for the gain of others; one that empties itself without restrain. May we abide in the manifestation of the Father’s love so we can show those around us a love like no other.
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