On Daily Death to Self

Verses:

John 13:14-15: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-8: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 

Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.”

Thoughts:

On the night that Jesus was betrayed, he spoke to his disciples about many different things. But, he makes an interesting statement: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another...” A new commandment? But, we have already been told to love one another (Lev. 19:18)! So, what about this commandment is new? We are to love one another as Christ has loved us (John 13:34). On face value, we may think, “Well, of course. I’ve read that before. It means I need to serve and be kind.” But, loving one another is not abstract concepts of serving or being kind that are floating in the outer world of things we think about but never do. We love one through real actions every single day. 

Christ told us this commandment just before he went to the cross. He said, “Love one another like me,” then went and showed them the apex of that love. Christ died a gruesome, painful death. Not only that, but he was betrayed by a close companion, Judas. All his disciples ran. Jesus was fully alone, and this was brought to its climax when he cried, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46).

Jesus Christ loved us so much that he was forsaken by the Father to atone for our sins. The Father with whom he had never been apart, with whom he spent eternity with. He bore his Father’s wrath for our sins because he loved us sinners. 

But, Jesus did not just love us in his death, but also in his life. Though his death was the climactic moment of his love, he lived perfectly as the Godman so that he could fulfill his role as the unblemished sacrificial lamb. By studying his death and life, we learn how to love. 

Christ’s daily love was not just a nice smile (though I’m sure he did), but rather it was active. He wept and ate with those around him (Matt 11:19, John 11:35). He washed his disciples feet (John 13:1-17). He spoke truth to those nearest him (John 14:6, Matt.16:23). Christ never loved in a way that bent to worldly wishes. He loved God first, and through loving God first he was able to fully and completely love those around him. 

Simply put, you cannot truly love those around you if you are trying to love by the world’s standards. The world thinks that love is only silent and supporting. But the bible says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, profuse are the kisses of an enemy” (Proverbs.27:6). Love speaks the truth. Love serves, but serves in a way that points to God and The Truth. 

We likely will never have the chance to physically die for our friends. Or stand in front of a bullet. But, loving those around us truly is a daily death to self. It is a constant fight to put others above oneself. It is the little choices to do the simple favors rather than ignoring them. 

We are called to love those around us as Christ loved us. The command is a weighty, weighty call to obey. But, because of our redemption in Christ, it is a joyous command.

Summary: We as Christians are called to live out the Word of God. We don’t just want to be listeners (or readers), but also doers. The first Commandment is to love God, and the second is like it, love your neighbor as Christ has loved the Church. How do we do this? We don’t get the chance to die for people every day. Or do we? In the Bible, being conformed to the Image of Christ is understood as putting the old self to death. In speaking truth and serving others, we are putting to death our old self. Love those around you as Christ has loved us, looking to him for the strength to do so.

Ask Yourself: So, I encourage you that in every passage you read, seek to ask yourself: How do I apply this to my life? How can I act on what I learned today? What lessons have I learned? What does this teach me about God?