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June 12, 2000
No Greater Love
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. --John 15:13

You can't show a greater love for people than James Harrison demonstrated. And he did it for people he didn't even know.

Harrison, a member of the Ouachita Baptist University choir, was returning home from Europe with his fellow singers. As their plane was landing in Little Rock, Arkansas, it was hit by heavy rains and high winds. The jet skidded off the runway and hit a bank of lights, ripping open the fuselage.

As chaos reigned and flames broke out in the mangled plane, Harrison began to help others. Over and over, he pulled passengers to safety and ran back to the plane for more. On his last trip into the burning wreckage, he was overcome with smoke. He didn't make it out alive.

At his funeral, the choir director quoted John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." Jesus was really speaking of His own death on our behalf, and the choir leader pointed out the value of this ultimate sacrifice.

We may never be called upon to make the kind of sacrifice James made during that horrible tragedy. Yet every day we have opportunities to set aside our comfort to love our neighbors (Mk. 12:31). How much love do we show?  — Dave Branon

The more Christ's love within us grows,
The more His graciousness outflows;
And when we face a fiery test,
His love we then will manifest. —Hess
In a world that "couldn't care less," Christians should care more.

Bible in One Year: Ezra 3-5; John 20
http://www.rbc.org/devotions.aspx?id=4712
© 2009 RBC MINISTRIES, Grand Rapids, MI 49555 USA.
Written permission must be obtained from RBC Ministries for any further posting or distribution.