High Motivation!

I was recently asked, "What motivates one to run into a burning building to save another? What moves one to throw himself on a hand grenade to save his buddies? Is it something that is learned?" My response was, "Valuing the life of others. And especially when one values the life of others more than their own life." It has to be something deep within to motivate such behavior, because generally such situations provide no time to think it out. Those who do those things seem to do so as an immediate response to the situation.

We may wonder about some of the things that go on in the world today that do reflect a lack of value in human life. Over things of little consequence, killings take place with little or no remorse. Senseless crimes against humanity occur all over the world. However, we still frequently read of those who willingly place their lives on the line for the lives of others. This past year we had a situation in our area where a man ran into a burning house to rescue a woman whom he did not even know. He was just passing by, saw the fire, and jumped into action. He suffered burns for his heroism and the woman unfortunately did not survive, but he acknowledged he would do it again anyway.

Though we are born into this world with more of a selfish focus -- feed me, change me, hold me, rock me, etc. -- at some point we begin to acknowledge the sphere of life is much larger than ourselves. We learn to share our toys and as we learn to VALUE LIFE we become more willing to SHARE OURSELVES as well.

Jesus stated. . .
"(12) This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (13) GREATER LOVE HAS NO ONE THAN THIS, THAT SOMEONE LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS." ( John 15:12-13 ESV)

To be willing to LOVE AS JESUS LOVED. That is to VALUE THE LIVES OF OTHERS. Jesus gave His life for the world which included friend and foe with the hope that the display of His love would produce an appropriate response. GREAT LOVE. A SELFLESS LOVE. A GIVING LOVE. A LOVE THAT VALUES OTHERS. May the LOVE OF CHRIST be the motivation for the actions of our life.

Have a great day SEEING THE VALUE JESUS DOES!
Carl

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