If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” - John 15:10-13

Jesus once told His followers to be as perfect as God himself. This of course is a very tall command. To be perfect like God is to imitate Jesus Christ, for Jesus is the God we have seen to this day. Jesus is Lord because He made a huge sacrifice for the sake of humanity. By His death, all are saved for eternity through the Love of God. The scriptures tell how Jesus suffered for our sake; He took upon Himself the punishment that we deserved as sinners, so we can be saved. Today, we are called to partake in the mysteries of His suffering by doing likewise to one another. We must imitate Christ in suffering so we too can experience His love. To sacrifice our life for others is to love others with the same love that Christ loves us. Today’s word scares me to my soul.

Trying to be like Jesus is no joke - It takes some ability. It takes some power. It takes the power of God to actualize this. How do we imitate Christ in sacrifice? By giving of ourselves willingly to others; forgive others no matter their error, and give to them what they do not deserve; Jesus says, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 22:34); be humble and obedient to His command (Ephesians 4:32, Phil 2:7-8); know His word and keep it, in other to perfect His love in you. (1 John. 2:5); Be a uniter, not a divider (1 Peter. 3:8); Die to your needs, live for others. We are to walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. (Ephesians 5:2). Beloved, take up the holy cup and drink today of the suffering of Christ for the sake of others. As you do this, seize Faith and act by Faith in obedience to God, for it is no longer our will, but the will of God -(Luke. 22:42). Beloved, we experience the love of God in full, when we are able to give freely of ourselves to others without restrictions.