By Kelley Darnell

“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

Whoa! I’m in awe of how much Jesus loved me! And how much He loves me still!

Can I even love like this? Am I capable of this love?

I’m praying that only through the Holy Spirit can I love someone so much as to die for them!

It sure is easy to say we would die for those we love, right!? We would do anything for our loved ones, especially our husbands and our children…. But anyone else? I don’t know….

Someone who has hurt us? Someone we didn’t know all that well?

Well just one verse before John 15:13, He gives a very clear command.

John 15:12
“This is my commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved you.”

He doesn’t say we should love, He commands it!

This is so hard at times. I’m on a personal journey to grow in my love for Jesus and those around me. And every single day is a struggle. I become so selfish and I quickly forget to love like Him. He loves me so much that He DIED for me!! I’m learning that he commands me to love like this. And he will give me all I need in order to love like Him.

One commentary summed up these verses like this:
We are to love each other as JESUS loved us, and He loved us enough to give His life for us.

We may not have to die for someone, but there are other ways to practice sacrificial love: listening, helping, encouraging, giving.

Think of someone in particular who needs this kind of love today! Give all the love you can and then try to give a little more.

I’m praying that the Lord will soften our hearts so that we will be able to learn to love like Him. That He will teach and guide us through the Holy Spirit how to love and abound in that love!