I Would Do Anything For You

 

By this we know love,

that He laid down 

      His life for us,

and we ought to lay down

   our lives for the brothers.

             1 John 3. 16

We love the first part of this verse

     about Jesus laying down

     His life for us.

But too often, we just mumble

        our part in this truth.

Love for others means

   laying down a lot of stuff

   we insist on carrying:

our "rights," our favorite idols,

our insistence on not forgiving,

and the biggest and bulkiest,

     our tightly gripped pride.

But the act of laying down

  releases us to do something else:

       to love and bless others

in extraordinary ways,

          even on ordinary days.

Are we willing to be selfless

    and loving in this situation?

Not thinking less of ourselves,

   but less about ourselves.

For the sake of the LORD,

   I will seek your good.

                Psalm 122. 9

O LORD,

Show us this day,

how to lay down our lives

  in order to pick up

  Your higher calling 

         in this situation.

Help us to see the best in

and seek the best for,

by loving others

       in tangible ways,

even those who have hurt us.

Grant to us the strength

   to restore our relationships,

and to bring Your love there.

Love says,

    I would do anything for you.

Indeed,

            You do everyday.

Help us to do likewise,

  even with him,

  even with her.