Lay Something Down

“No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.” - John 15:13 (CSB)

Jesus did not define love in abstraction.He defined it in surrender.

For six days, you have walked through what that means. Love has a standard. Love is chosen. The cross is substitution. Enemies become friends. Grace precedes obedience.

Now comes the unavoidable question: What will you lay down?

When Jesus spoke of laying down His life, He was speaking of the cross. But before the nails came smaller surrenders. He laid down comfort. He laid down reputation. He laid down the right to defend Himself. He laid down His will in Gethsemane before He laid down His body at Golgotha.

Great love is rarely one dramatic moment. It is daily surrender.

Most of us will never face crucifixion. But we will face ego. We will face pride. We will face the desire to win arguments, protect comfort, preserve image, guard time, cling to control.
And love will ask us to lay something down.

• Lay down the need to be right.
• Lay down the cold distance you have maintained.
• Lay down the sarcasm that masks resentment.
• Lay down the comfort that keeps you from serving.
• Lay down the silence that avoids reconciliation.

Not to earn salvation. Not to prove devotion. But because the greatest love has already been laid down for you.

The cross removes fear from surrender.

You are not giving something up into emptiness. You are giving it up into the hands of the God who already gave His Son for you. Every act of obedience flows from security, not anxiety.

And here is the quiet truth: laying something down will hurt your pride before it hurts anything else. That is often where love feels most costly. But that is also where it becomes most visible. Love that costs you something reveals Christ in you.

So do not end this devotional inspired. End it obedient.

Ask the Spirit to put His finger on one specific surrender. Not abstract love. Not general sacrifice. Something real. Something concrete. Something that requires trust. And then lay it down.

Reflection Question
What specific pride, comfort, or control is Christ asking you to lay down this week?

The greatest love was laid down for you. Now lay something down in response.

Prayer
Jesus, You did not hold anything back when You loved me. Show me what I am still holding too tightly. Give me courage to surrender it in trust. Let my obedience reflect gratitude for the cross, not fear of rejection. Form in me a love that costs something. Amen.