Laying Down My Soul

Published by christi on March 12, 2020March 12, 2020

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 1 John 3:16

Digging into this verse (mine for 2020), I uncovered a small idea that I am beginning to explore: the Greek word translated life is a word that means more than physical life. This encouragement from the apostle John is not talking about taking a bullet for someone, or throwing one’s self in front of a speeding truck to remove another from harm’s way, but of choosing to place one’s soul in the horizontal position for the sake of another. Jesus alone could lay down His life to be the recipient of my punishment for sin, so my part in this must be somewhat different.  I must have more understanding of what it means to make the part of me that stands up lie face down as part of caring for another’s  welfare.

The more I think about this, the more challenged I feel. How often do I sacrifice my strength and my sleep for a good cause? But as I am doing it, am I holding on to my “rights” to have others think well of me, or to do what I enjoy doing?

When I am preparing a meal for someone who has strong preferences about food, am I resentful? If so, I haven’t laid down my psuche, my soul.

If something we do feels like it is “soul-sucking,” we usually just stop doing it. This word can describe  a co-dependent relationship, a less-than-stimulating required activity, or something that fills me with resentment or a sense of martyrdom. Many relationships come apart when we feel this. It may not be the activity or that is the problem. It may be what is going on in my heart.

Maybe I am simply tired, or there is something else amiss with my heart.

it is time to ask the Spirit of Truth to reveal what’s going on. I need to listen to my own thinking and to His voice, choosing new thoughts that match His.

In the (everyday) transformation process,

Christi