John 15:13; 1 John 4:10; John 3:16
Written by: Alexander Rico
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. John 15:13, NKJV
A few years ago, I once dated a girl who was two years younger than I am. I was 17 at the time, and she was 15. To add to it, it was a long distant relationship. She lived in a small town in New York, and I lived in Apple Valley, California. Despite the distance between us, we felt that we were in love. Everyday, we used to talk for hours on the phone, and write back and forth to one another through snail mail (US Mail), and e-mails; however, our relationship soon came to a crashing halt around the Christmas season.
I was checking my e-mails, and stumbled upon one that she had sent me. I quickly opened it, and my facial expression of happiness faded.
In that e-mail, she began explaining how she felt about our nine-month relationship, and how it was not working out, and that she now wanted to dump me for one of her, get this, close friends. At that moment, I was crushed, beaten, and bruised. I felt that I could never love anyone the same way.
I fell into this emotional roller coaster ride. You know, the self-pitty party. About two days later, I received another e-mail from her, asking for my help to mend their relationship with one another. At reading that, my first thought was, “why?”
But, as I began to pray, and respond back, God showed me something, and my attitude changed.
What’s the point? Why am I telling you this? Well, I wanted to make it clear that I have come to understand, as many of you may be feeling, and need to know, that though I felt love, and felt the pain of rejection, I am not, not loved.
How you ask?
Well, when my ex-girlfriend dumped me, I discovered a greater love that I would never want to give up for anything. See, Jesus speaking here in this verse was telling his disciples about his love for them, a great love that would be shown there on the hill of Calvary; Agape Love, an unconditional love.
Jesus loved us so much, that he died for us.
In this the love of God was manifested towards us, that God has sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (atoning sacrifice) for our sins. 1 John 4:9-10, NKJV
I do not know about any of you, but I have never received such a gift from someone that I loved, or was loved by as great as this. Sure, I would get gifts of CDs, DVDs, computer games, video games, and books from them on my birthdays and holidays, but I would never see them push me out of the way of an oncoming train, and lay down on a set of railroad tracks for me. I am sure that they would like to, and would think about it briefly, but when given the actual chance, would turn and run the other direction.
No one in history could ever, or would ever want to or wish to amount up to what Christ did for us on that hill hanging on a rough, wooden cross for six hours, between two criminals, taking the full burden of all our sins upon himself.
I like the way that Max Lucado, one of my favorite Christian writers sums God’s love up in his book, “He chose the Nails.”
He states, “But God’s list contains the name of every person who ever lived. For this is the scope of his love. And this is the reason for the cross. He loves the world!”
Max goes on to state, “As boldly as the center beam proclaims God’s holiness, the crossbeam declares his love. And, oh, how wide his love reaches.”
Sure, when I was dating. My ex-girlfriend may have brought me love in gifts, and conversations, but Christ has given me so much more then she could ever have. He gave me the gift of life, and the life beyond.
For God so LOVED the World that he GAVE his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
See, when I accepted Christ, he did not look to the outward appearance, or the fact that I had sinned several times before calling on him to love me. He simply took me in and showed me a greater love that no one else could ever give, a love that would extend far beyond what I could ever receive from a particular person.
That’s the key, the key that stopped my hard attitude towards my ex-girlfriend, and made me realize that even though she dumped me for this guy, I was loved more than she could ever love me.
If you feel today, while reading this, that you are lonely, and that you want someone to love, and be loved back by; then, perhaps you are looking too far. The person is right there, his name is Jesus Christ, and he died to show you the extent of his love.
All you have to do now is simply cry out to him, and ask him to come and be the LOVE, and the LORD of your life.
The Bible tells us in Romans 10:9,10, That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart, God raised him from the dead, you will be saved!! For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved!!
So, what are you waiting for? If youd like to accept Christ; then by all means, please join me in this simple prayer of acceptance, asking Jesus into your heart, mind, and soul.
Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner, I take this time to confess all my sins to you, and ask for your forgiveness. Please come into my heart, my mind, and my soul. Lord, take complete control, and be the LOVE and LORD of my life. In your son’s precious holy name, AMEN.
If you prayed that prayer along with me, I’d like to announce that today, the moment you prayed that prayer accepting Christ into your life the Bible says, There is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner represents. (Luke 15:10)
Just like that, you are forgiven, and adopted into God’s family, no questions asked, no strings attached; although, there are several things that you should do to continue to grow in a relationship with God.
- Read the Bible This is God’s love letter to you. It also provides us with a foundation for relationships with others, and tells us about attitudes, motivation and truth. It is important to know, and enlist the principles in the Bible into your life; they keep you on the right way and allow us to make sound judgments concerning people and doctrine.
- Pray In any relationship communication is important, priority factor. God desires to communicate with each of us. Prayer is not just a forum for requests. God wants to hear our feelings, hurts, ambitions and joys. Through this he is able to change and refine those parts of us that need it.
- Have Fellowship Get plugged into a church or local group that studies the bible. As we begin to share with others what we have learned from the Bible and prayer, we encourage others to grow and ourselves. Fellowship as God planned it is not a clicke or special club designed for gossip. We must be careful to keep our conversations with others honest. It’s best described as a fire. One coal alone dies down quickly, but a mound of coals burn white hot, just as one Christian alone will struggle to stay “on fire,” while a group together keeps each other hot.
- Witness Go into the world and preach the good news to all creation. (Mark 16:15). Jesus gave this as a command, not an option. God has chosen all Christians to be agents of His gospel. We are either missionaries or mission fields. That does not mean that everyone should travel to different countries, but it does mean that no matter where go we should be prepared in life and in word to be ambassadors for Christ. Pray for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given to me so I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel. (Ephesians 6:9)
May God continue to bless you now, as you grow in your new life with HIM!
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