Tith a what?

We have heard it before: The ultimate definition of love is "the laying down of one's life for another." When Christians hear that, they immediately think of the death of Jesus, who selflessly "laid aside His life" (died) for the benefit of His beloved. The Apostle John reiterates this in I John 3:16, and although the death of His Lord may be one thing that was on His mind, could he have been alluding to something else? If John wanted to say true love is demonstrated by the sacrificial death of someone on behalf of another, why didn't he say that? The word John uses is a Greek word, τιθημι (tith-ay-me), which simply means "to lay aside." The "laying aside" of one's life may include dying, but that is only one aspect.

What characterized our Lord was not just His sacrificial death on our behalf, but His sacrificial life. Jesus said "The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and give His life as a ransom for many." He demonstrated the pattern in John 13 by washing His disciples feet shortly before His death. He set the pattern of what supreme love is. For the Savior, supreme love meant taking upon Himself the full measure of God's wrath on our behalf, but loving one another may not require a sacrificial death, but it does require a sacrificial life.

If we are to love as Jesus commands us, we must "lay aside" our lives for one another. This does not mean, as some may believe, that we can go on living our lives to please ourselves, but be willing, when the moment is right, to sacrifice our physical lives in order to allow another person to live, it means moment by moment, we sacrifice our own preferences, resources, time, energy, will, and desires for the benefit of one another. I confess to you I just read that sentence, and I'm convicted. If you are convicted, also, because you recognize your own insufficiency to love in this way, than be sure to thank your God, who loves us in this way, and is so patient with us, and may we all, by the power of His Spirit, learn to love each other that way.

I John 3:2

"...we shall see Him as He is."


We have all done it, especially in this society, and I'm sure it's not difficult to picture the typical country pastor who cleverly says in response to compliments, "I wish my wife thought of me the same as you do, but she can't because she has to live with me!" In a society swarming with... how do I say this gently... an overemphasized appreciation for individuals, it's not too long before we realize the ideas we have in our minds about even the saintliest of God's servants paints a far too rosy picture for them. I'm sure they, like ourselves, want those things to be true about them, but it's not the reality. I'm reminded of one godly man who was urged by his supporters to respond to harsh slander and criticism. Everyone was expecting him to be appalled by what was said, and send out a well reasoned defense of his character, which was above reproach, but after reading the comments, he said to his supporters, "gentlemen, I am all of those things and more."

Now there is a man with a correct view of himself. Whether or not the things said about him were true wasn't important. He understood that the worst thing someone could say about him still fell short of who he really was apart from Christ. He wasn't interested in defending his character because why defend a man he has been trying to kill since he was introduced to Christ?

Jesus Christ has the opposite problem. Any exultation or words of praise you could offer Christ still fall short of what He deserves. Jesus Christ presents for us the perfect juxtaposition to humanity at it's best. You may think you appreciate Christ now, but just wait until you see what He is REALLY like! When you think of the depth and richness of that statement, "We shall see Him as He is." It makes you wonder why you would want to have anything to do with yourself any longer. I would challenge all of you to take a good, hard look at who you are "in the inner-most parts" and then think about who Christ is. When you understand those two things, you're ready to worship.