No greater Love

"When an enemy sacrifices their life for yours, you have to question if you're on the wrong side."

(This quote was made by a female character on a TV show, after an opposing agent sacrificed his life to save hers, allowing her to escape from a falling building.)

This quote in the show made me think. It made me think about my life, and my heart toward others. It deeply made me consider the impact that sacrifice and love have on people.

It made me think of how important the lives of others are. Even the ones who disagree with, or oppose me. It also made me think of how important God thinks we are. God is love, and He sacrificed His life for us; for all of us.

Would I give my life to save an enemy? Someone that opposed me, disliked me, and disagreed with me? Because Love did. Jesus did. Do I sacrifice for others, even my enemies?

If I have love within me, then I will. It’s the ultimate test, for ourselves and anything we see, hear or experience. How do we know, how do we test if anything or anyone is of God? You’ll know them by their love.

Hate won't sacrifice for someone else. Pride won’t give to others. Self righteousness won't die for an enemy. Nothing, except love, would see a criminal about to receive a life sentence and say, "I’ll take his punishment".

That same spirit of Love, that gave His life at the crucifixion, is sacrificing His life still. Through those that are His. Through us and in us Love desires to, and does, continue to sacrifice its life, our lives, for others in a variety of ways. Sacrificing time, convenience, finances, resources and yes, even sometimes, our physical lives.

His Spirit within us makes us one with Him. The One, who is Love, becomes one with us. Making us Him. Not in totality but proportionally. Making us Love, just as He is Love.

We become His hands and feet. We become branches that are identified with, and actually are, the vine. We are not the vine in totality, yet we are the vine in the sense that every branch, leaf and every particle of matter that make up the vine, is the vine. The vine will still be the vine without some of its branches or leaves. While the branches and leaves, if separated from the vine, are no longer considered the vine; but only branches and leaves.

In the same sense of God as the vine, God is love. Those who are in Him and He in them, are love. What we do, say, and desire is love. Love sacrifices and gives without fear and without regret.

God - Love - sacrificed and gave. He sacrificed all of Himself, and yet, He is still sacrificing Himself for others through His saints, in various degrees of sacrifice. Jesus in us desires to, and is, giving and sacrificing His life for others, over and over and over again.

"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" John 13:35

"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."

John 15:13 NIV

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, [living as enemies, in opposition and disagreement toward Him] Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

Love is who He is. Love is who He desires and plans for us to become. Of all transformations and achievements for us to attain, the highest is Love. There is nothing more important to do, or to become, other than Love.

God is Love. His Kingdom is a kingdom of Love. And the greatest rule, the ONLY rule, of His kingdom is Love. Love God with all of your being; and love others.

But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.

Matthew 6:33 AMP

If we seek, aim at and strive after His kingdom, above all else, then we are seeking Love. Love is His kingdom. Love is the vine. We are branches of love. Love lived for the benefit of others, and when it was best for others for love to die, then love chose death. We are now that love. That same spirit, the same sap and life that flow through the vine, flow through us, His branches.

If we view life through the perspective that Jesus, Paul, and others seemed to share, we can agree that this life matters very little. It's only temporary. If I lived poor and remained poor, what does it matter. If I attained much or attained nothing, either way I take none of it with me. This life is over quickly, then eternal life begins.

The only things that will transfer from this life to the next life are faith, hope and Love. If I invest in those, if I allow those to grow within me while on this earth, then I can take those to the next life.

"And now these three remain: [carryover from earthly life into eternal life] faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

1 Corinthians 13:13

"Pursue [this] love [with eagerness, make it your goal],)..."

1 Corinthians 14:1(a) AMP

We hold onto this life, our objects, belongings and attainments, like a person who foolishly tries to hold onto their wallet during an armed robbery. The wallet, no matter how expensive, and the contents, no matter how precious, limited or valuable, are still only temporary. They will be gone and separated from you one day, forever. The wallet and the contents are not worth your life.

With that perspective I can more easily give up what I understand is temporary. It becomes easier to give to others, sacrifice for others, prioritize others above myself; and if need be give my life for theirs.

When I recognize that I'm sacrificing the temporary, to invest love in another eternal soul, I will invest love without a second thought. It has the highest and longest lasting value. Sacrifice and giving, out of love, is the wisest investment I can ever make.

How can I know that God truly lives in another human? By their love. How can I know if God truly lives in me? By my love. If someone doesn't yet know God, how can they discover Him? By experiencing His love. Whether through one of us, His branches, or an encounter with God's Spirit directly.

What attributes do we look for to test what love is?

"Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening]. Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]..."

1 Corinthians 13:4‭-‬8 AMP

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for someone else.

Doctrine will not transfer into eternal life. Political opinions will not transfer to eternal life. Your job title, property deeds and bank accounts will not transfer to eternal life. Nor will prophecy, tongues, miracles, etc. Only faith, hope and Love. And the greatest, the highest value of those three, is love.

Get Love. Have Love now. Find Love now. Grow your love now. Eagerly pursue it, as if it's more important than your next paycheck. Seek it as if it were the greatest accomplishment, invention, achievement, investment, or reward; because it is. Love is the highest. In all your pursuing, find, know, and attain love.

He is Love; and if we are His, then Love is who, and what, we will be.