"Feed the Flock": "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This"

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 9
 
The story is told of a drill sergeant who, meeting a group of recruits for the first time, without warning tossed a hand grenade into the group. Understandably they all scattered seeking cover away from the grenade. It did not explode because, the drill sergeant explained, “it was not set to explode.” That was their initiation into intensive combat training.
The next day, just before a new recruit joined the group, the sergeant told the rest not to let on what was going to happen. The sergeant came out again and threw the grenade into the crowd of soldiers who again scattered—except for the new recruit. Unaware of the trick and thinking it was a live grenade, he had thrown himself on top of it to keep it from harming his fellow-soldiers.
We often are reminded in John 15:1313Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13) that “greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” This is the greatest expression of love that man is capable of displaying, and it reminds us of the ultimate sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ.
However, in Romans 12:11I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (Romans 12:1) we are encouraged to give ourselves as a “living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” In 1 John 3:1616Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (1 John 3:16) the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus in His death is the standard and measure by which we are to live lives of sacrifice for our brethren. May we, in love for Christ, be willing to pay that price!
Ed.