For The Sake Of Others

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."  (John 15:13 KJV)

If it is a great thing that men and women have laid down their lives that their friends might live free from tyranny; how much love do they have that have laid down their lives for strangers.  I sometimes hear that many of the wars that the U.S. has been involved in was not in anyway to protect this country and we should not have been in them.   

Jesus was once asked by a lawyer, "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. 

                                                                                  (Luke 10:25-37)

This weekend we remember all those who gave their lives so that friends and strangers around the world might have the opportunity to live in relative freedom. This may not have always proved fruitful, but, the men and women who gave their lives gave them because they cared for the well-being of the lives of others.

Oh, how the world would change if we could all truly love our friends and strangers.

God's Peace - Pr. J