Jesus tells his disciples the greatest expression of love is laying down one’s life for a friend. Here in the America West we tend to think of giving up our lives physically to death. And, certainly that extreme is embedded in the text of Scripture. But, does that mean we must rush out looking to die physically or we do not show love? Or, could it be we tend to hold on to our ideologies to such a degree we would as soon keep them and lose a friend? Peter wrestles with a deep rooted racism that he must eventually lay down in order to love Cornelius and his people. Though it could be argued Peter did not completely overcome his feeling of ethnic superiority, he may have been well on his way. The question begging to be answered, “What have you held on to that keeps you from showing the love of God in Jesus, the Christ?” It may be time to lay it down and love.
Todd, I like these thoughts. I think that often we talk about being willing to physically die for somebody or something, but are really less likely to be inconvenienced for the same somebody or the same thing.
Frank,
Thanks for the comment. In fact, when we since we will be inconvenienced that is precisely when we most often refuse to act in favor toward another.