John 15:12-13 says, “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
Liza was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her five-year-old brother. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. He hesitated for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, ‘Yes, I’ll do it if it will save Liza.’ As the transfusion progressed, he lay in a bed next to his sister and smiled, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, ‘Will I start to die right away?’ Being young, the boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give her all of his blood. He was willing to lose everything to save the one he loved.
Sacrifice, selfless generosity, full commitment... these are the things of love. Real love. The love that Christ showed on the cross for mankind... and the type of love He asks us to demonstrate to those we call family or friend.
Are we ready and willing to love those that have the most invested in us? Are we willing to look past the past and move on even when people have hurt us so badly? Do we really love those we say we do… or are they just supposed to understand when we give them just a portion of our hearts.
Christ-like love is 100%. It’s sacrificial. It’s generous. It’s top shelf love… not back of the fridge leftovers. It’s forgiveness… even when that forgiveness has not been earned, asked for, or deserved. When we love others like God loves us it is not self-serving, “what’s in it for me” kind of devotion… it’s totally unselfish and completely unconditional.
Christ loves you 100% because you’re you. That’s it.
Is it possible to love another human being like that? Yes.
And that person may call you daddy, mommy, brother, sister, boss, friend, or colleague. They may annoy you, call you out when you blow it, and frustrate you to the point of breaking sometimes. But the reality is, if we all want to live like Christ did… and that’s the whole point of our walk with Him… we have to learn to love with all of our hearts.
Are you willing to give it all for someone else?
Are you willing to serve another like you were caring for yourself?
Are you willing to love without holding back, give without reservation, and trust God with the outcome?
If so, God is going to do big things in and through your life.
If not, what’s holding you back?
What is it that prevents you from loving at this level? Is it fear, past hurt, lack of trust, risk, not feeling appreciated… what is it that keeps you loving at 90% or lower? I can promise you this… one day when this life nears its end, you and I will look back not at what we accomplished, but on who we loved. Who had our hearts? Who did we hold dearest? Who got our 100%?
Was there someone who saw us as uncaring, cold, distant, or aloof?
Was there someone who we said we loved but never trusted?
Was there someone who we should have sacrificed for but held something back from?
Was there someone who deserved all of us… but only got a fragment?
I don’t want to ask those questions of myself. And I know you probably don’t either.
The great part is… if you’re reading this today, you aren’t dead. This means that you still have time to learn to love, give, and serve those around you at the “all-in” level. Resist the urge to say this is impossible. Push back the temptation to say “but I…” or “I can’t…” or “she doesn’t…” or “but they…”. Decide today that you are going to work toward giving people the whole you. The you that loves wholeheartedly and without reservation. The you that puts others first…
The you that would give all of their blood for the survival of another.
That’s the kind of total love Christ was talking about. Remember what Jesus said were the two most important commandments… Love God and love others. And the only way to really love both?
Give 100%.
