How to lay down your life for another every day!

Heroes lay down their lives

We all know stories about those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The soldiers who have died on the battlefield to protect our freedoms. The police and firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty to protect those around them.

Recently, I read about a father who shielded his children and took a bullet when thieves tried to rob a store where they were shopping.

The stories are literally endless of those who sacrificed themselves for others.

For the believer, Jesus was the ultimate example of sacrifice for He died for us as 1 John 3:16 says, “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.”

Even though physically laying down one’s life is the ultimate sacrifice, there is another form of laying down one’s life that is just as important. It is this kind of sacrifice that the author John is referring to and what he encourages each one of us to do. The key to this is in the biblical Greek word for life.

The Three Greek Words for Life

In the English language there is only one word for life. In the Greek, which the New Testament was written in, there are three.

First there is the word Bios. It is used for our word Biology, the study of life. Bios is the physical part of life, the present existence of actually living. The Greeks also used the word to refer to that which sustains living such as belongings and food.

Secondly there is the word Zoe. When the Bible talks about eternal life this is the word that is always used. Zoe involves the life of not just the body, but also the soul and the spirit.

The third word for life in biblical Greek is Psyche. This word is also translated as ‘soul’ elsewhere. The Psyche or soul is that part of a person that makes them unique, their personality and ego, whatever makes them uniquely who they are.

Interesting enough, this is the word that is used in the verse above talking about laying down your life, literally it means laying down your soul.

I think this is what the author John had in mind when he said “we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren”.

When Jesus came to earth, He did more than just lay down his physical life.

Showing Real Love by Dying to Self

In Philippians 2:5-7 it says, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.”

What this is saying is though Jesus was God in the flesh and could easily have demanded the respect of being that, He humbled Himself so He could do what He came to do on behalf of mankind.

He died to self, put aside his ego, his right, for the sake of others. What is more is Philippians 2:5 says we should have the same mind as Christ Jesus. We to should show our love to others by setting aside our ego, our rights and die to our selfishness.

That is real love; when we let go of our pride, our selfishness and think of others instead of ourselves.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not advocating becoming a doormat and letting others walk over you. Nor am I saying that we should despise ourselves and look at ourselves negatively in any way.

The truth is we are naturally self-centered people. We do things that are to our advantage. We may even be in a relationship solely for selfish reasons, for what we can get out of that relationship.

It takes work and effort not to be self-centered. It takes an effort to let go of your pride and truly show sacrificial love to another.

In my experience, most marital issues occur when the pride of one or both parties are hurt and they can’t get beyond that pride.

But imagine what a marriage could be like if both husband and wife laid down their life, their soul, their ego for the sake of each other. The harmony that would exist would truly be impressive.

Laying down one’s life in this fashion is possible for each and every person because it isn’t physical, it’s spiritual. But it takes a daily reminder and effort to do it, because like I said we are selfish by nature and if we aren’t careful that pride pops out when we don’t expect it.

Sometimes people make the mistake when talking about loving themselves. The take a selfish approach to that kind of love. In reality, you are to love God and love others by sacrificing your pride and selfish ego. Love yourself because in God’s eyes you are worthy. There is a balance between the two.

One other observation I would like to make is how John intertwined all three words for life in three verses in I John.

I John 3:15-17 says, whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life (zoe) abiding in him.

By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives (psyche) for the brethren.

But whoever has this world’s goods (bios), and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

Hate has no place in anyone’s life. Hate destroys. Not only does it destroy relationship it also destroys the person doing the hating by eating them up inside. Nor is there love in someone who is unable to show compassion to someone who is truly in need of the substances that help others to live their lives. The only answer is to let go of that pride and ego and truly show love to those you can.

If you have any questions about today’s topic feel free to leave me a message in the comments below.

Have a wonderful and blessed day.