Laying Down Your Life
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."1
According to Doug Batchelor in his book, Broken Chains, "There's a story about two Filipino brothers, identical twins, who lived in Manila and made their living by driving jeepneys, Filipino taxis. Though they were twins and had similar jobs, they lived very different lives. One was married and had children; the other was single. Then one day, the married brother accidentally struck and killed a tourist with his taxi. Accused of reckless driving, the twin was sentenced to twenty years in the notorious Manila prisonâ€"a devastating fate that would leave his wife and children without an income.
"One day, his twin came to visit him in prison. He said, 'Brother, your family desperately needs you. Put on my clothes and take my visitor's pass and I will put on your prison uniform and serve the rest of your sentence. Go to your family.' So, while the guards were not looking, the twins exchanged clothes, and the married brother walked out of the prison unchallenged. Do you think the twin who was freed could ever stop thinking about the sacrifice that his brother made in trading places with him?"2
Jesus, in His great love and compassion for us, gave His life willingly on the cross over 2,000 years ago. I intentionally take time often to think of what the consequences for my sin would have been had it not been for Jesus. I didn't deserve forgiveness or a second chance, but He knew there was more to me than I could see.
The best way we can thank Jesus for this amazing sacrifice, is by living for Him and putting His Word to practice. Let us not take our second chance for granted, but instead choose to make a difference and impact our world with the Good News.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, how can I ever thank You enough for Your great act of love in giving Your Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross? Jesus you chose to give your life for me, and I choose to live my life for you. Allow me to be like you, and never let the opportunity pass to share Your Good News with others. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's name. Amen."
1. John 15:13 (NIV).
2. Doug Batchelor, Broken Chains, Pacific Press 2004.
Cited on WITandWISDOM www.witandwisdom.org.
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