Devotional- Summer of Love: Lay Down Your Life
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”
—1 John 3:16 (NIV)
Love is hard. It’s beautiful, but it’s hard.
John doesn’t sugarcoat it when he writes, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” That’s not a metaphor. That’s not a feel-good quote for social media. That’s the gospel. Jesus gave everything—not because we deserved it, not because we earned it, but because that’s who He is.
And now, John says, this same love is meant to shape our lives. We are called to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. Not just in the big moments, but in the daily choices. In the way we show up. In the way we see others. In the way we choose to care, even when it’s inconvenient.
This is where faith becomes uncomfortable. It pushes us past what’s easy or familiar. It asks us to love across difference. Across offense. Across wounds. And in a world that often tells us to protect ourselves first, the gospel invites us to lay ourselves down.
But don’t miss this: we don’t do this on our own. We love because He first loved us. And we keep going because His Spirit is with us.
So, who’s that person in your life you’ve been avoiding? Who do you find it hardest to love? Where might God be nudging you to open your hands, to forgive, to lean in instead of pulling away?
Love is the most courageous thing we can do in a divided world. And when we love like Jesus, even in small ways, it becomes a signpost that points people toward a different kind of kingdom—a better story.
Questions for Reflection:
Who in my life is God inviting me to love in a deeper, more sacrificial way?
Are there areas where I’m choosing comfort over compassion?
What does it look like to lay down my life in a practical way this week?
Prayer:
God, thank You for loving me so fully and freely. Thank You for Jesus, who gave everything so I could be made whole. Teach me to love others the way You love me. Open my heart to the people I’ve closed off. Help me choose compassion over convenience, and grace over grudges. Fill me with Your Spirit so I can walk in the light and reflect Your love in the way I live. Amen.
Dig Deeper:
1 John 2:9–11 – Love reveals the truth of our faith
Romans 12:9–21 – What real love looks like in community
Luke 10:25–37 – The parable of the Good Samaritan and the call to see others
Final Thought:
You don’t need a platform or a microphone to reflect the love of Jesus. All you need is a willing heart. When we choose to love, even in the small, unseen moments, we participate in the work of God’s kingdom. Let your love be bold. Let it be costly. Let it point to the One who loved you first.
