Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends….I have called you friends… —John 15:13, 15
Jesus does not ask me to die for Him, but to lay down my life for Him. Peter said to the Lord, “I will lay down my life for Your sake,” and he meant it (John 13:37). He had a magnificent sense of the heroic. For us to be incapable of making this same statement Peter made would be a bad thing— our sense of duty is only fully realized through our sense of heroism. Has the Lord ever asked you, “Will you lay down your life for My sake?” (John 13:38). It is much easier to die than to lay down your life day in and day out with the sense of the high calling of God. We are not made for the bright-shining moments of life, but we have to walk in the light of them in our everyday ways. There was only one bright-shining moment in the life of Jesus, and that was on the Mount of Transfiguration. It was there that He emptied Himself of His glory for the second time, and then came down into the demon-possessed valley (seeMark 9:1-29). For thirty-three years Jesus laid down His life to do the will of His Father. “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16). Yet it is contrary to our human nature to do so.
If I am a friend of Jesus, I must deliberately and carefully lay down my life for Him. It is a difficult thing to do, and thank God that it is. Salvation is easy for us, because it cost God so much. But the exhibiting of salvation in my life is difficult. God saves a person, fills him with the Holy Spirit, and then says, in effect, “Now you work it out in your life, and be faithful to Me, even though the nature of everything around you is to cause you to be unfaithful.” And Jesus says to us, “…I have called you friends….” Remain faithful to your Friend, and remember that His honor is at stake in your bodily life.
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Journal DJR
Good Morning Lord,
You know that I have been “in process” for a while now. The process of realization that I’ve been lied to. I’ve been lied to by my country … I’ve been lied to by my church. Some things that I’ve believed as facts, are being revealed as lies. So, since I’ve learned the value of curiosity over the last few years, I’m trying to just stay curious. If all these things I’ve believed are not true… What else might not be true? What will be the next “truth” to unravel? Dont get me wrong, I’m not devastated, In fact, this adventure has some excitement to it. I agree with Socrates, when he said, The unexamined life is not worth living. I understand that this type of examination will either drive me closer or further from You. So far it is driving me closer, but I’ve seen friends who responded differently. I am really thankful for my friend and our safe space at CO2. I am getting it that you are OK and even glad that I am examining all things and I won’t be kicked out for being a heretic.
Yes, I desire all my kids to examine their beliefs in a healthy way. As you keep coming to me, I will help you sort the true from the false and what you have left will be pure gold. You can trust me. I will never leave you or forsake you. You cannot fully trust any human or institution … because they are all fallible. Even if they want to give you their purest and best, they are still fallible. So come to me and I will help you. I will sort you out and help you sort out your beliefs. Remember that not everything that is true is important for you to dwell on. I will guide you in that as well. Remember also that the things that you were told were not all devious lies. Some of them were just the best that those people had at the time.
I’m not sure which is easier to accept with curiosity… a purposeful lie or an ignorant lie. Initially the purposeful lie has more emotion attached. Anger and a desire for retribution, “justice” and all. Ignorant lies seem easier to forgive. But after a bit of reflection, they both blend together as things to stay curious about, to see what else you will reveal and what else will happen next. Thank you so much for the refuge that Curiosity has become for me.
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