On a relatively warm January Friday few weeks ago, I was helping my 84-year-old dad on his farm. As usual, he had a list of things for us to get done while I was there.  My time was starting to grow short. So, as he was putting the tractor away from a just finished task, I was already headed to the barn to start pulling together what we’d need for the next project.

Then it hit me! Why was I rushing on ahead without him? Was finishing the list of things-to-do really that important?

I turned around and waited for Dad to park the tractor. I thought with we’d walk and chat along the way to the barn.  Instead, he stopped and pointed to something out in the field and started talking.  We stood there for fifteen or twenty minutes in conversation. The list of things-to-do didn’t get finished, but that conversation was the very best part of the day!

“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)

Being a disciple of Jesus requires “life laying down” love. And like that day on the farm, loving as Jesus requires may mean laying down your agenda long enough to just stop and chat. It might mean laying down your desire to always be the one who wins. Perhaps it means not retaliating when someone has hurt or offended you. Maybe it’s… well you fill in the blank. 

Being Jesus’ disciple means living out this “life laying down” love.  My prayer for you, and me, is that we’ll say “yes” and follow!

Your partner on the journey,

Pastor Steve