Easter - The Reminder of Love & Laying Down Life for Others

Easter is a wonderful time to remember just how loved we are. In our faith, it was the day that Love was expressed beyond measure. Love sacrificed. Love gave. Love still gives. Love gave before time began.

Jesus said that no greater love has a man than this: that he lay down his life for his friend.

I know what that means to each of us. I want to express this thought in a different light.
Are we willing to lay aside our agenda and take the time to listen to a friend who is facing a difficulty? Are we willing to lay down our "life" for a few minutes and be a friend in the truest sense of the word?

I have been on the receiving end of this recently. I have had a friend lay down their "lives" and be a great support, listener, and offer their thoughts concerning some of the circumstances I was facing. They took the time out of their day to be there. That's love.

I notice that for some people this comes naturally. For others, they struggle with this. Those that have a natural care and concern for others have cultivated this in their lives or maybe they didn't cultivate themselves. Maybe they were taught it from their parents. Or maybe it was something they were born with. Maybe they have a sensitive side. Whatever the case may be, they exude the nature of Christ.

Maybe they don't even realize that they reveal the nature of Christ. Maybe they don't "serve" Christ. Maybe they once did but they don't anymore. Maybe they have never been a Christian persay. The only way I can explain this is that as they breathe, they breathe the nature of Christ. They came from Spirit so they are simply acting from Spirit.

Isn't that what Jesus did the day "He had need to go to Samaria"?

Sometimes Samaria comes to us. Sometimes we go to Samaria. Sometimes we are Samaria.

So today, as we celebrate Easter, much like we did a few months ago with Christmas, I feel loved. Not only do I feel loved...I am loved. And as I have been blessed with the gift of love from my friends, so I desire to be in that position to return the favor. To lay down my "life" for a few minutes for a friend.