Laying it down.

Today I lost someone I knew. I didn't hang out with him all the time, but I knew him, spent time with him and even saw him last week in my office. He died today. I cannot imagine waking up one morning not realizing that it was my last day. I have SO many things I want to do before I die. I know it is not something anyone ever really thinks about. Who would? It is a very morbid idea. Death. Scary, but why? Unknown I suppose. The finality of it all perhaps. I think the hardest thing is when you know someone, spend time with them and are invested in their life on some level it is a loss because there is a void where that person was. I really started thinking about this when I got home and a thought really hit me between the eyes. Jesus asked us to lay our lives down for Him. What does that mean? In times of war, a soldier puts his life in the hands of his fellow soldiers and they do the same for him. It simply means to be willing to die for a friend. We are not asked to physically die but die a spiritual death to ourselves and become a "living sacrifice" for Him. To be so sold out for Christ that we are willing to do everything, including DIE, for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The worst decision we have to make as Christians in today's society is if we can save ourselves embarrassment from a certain person/group from finding out we are a Christian. Are we really willing to lay our lives down? Willing to make the sacrifices necessary? Or at least be so sold out for the gospel of Jesus Christ that it impacts our lives in a real way? I fall WAY short, WAY too often. If today was my last day, can I truly say I have lived a life that is one of "living sacrifice" worthiness? I don't think so. Lord, help me to remember EVERY day of my life that I am a living sacrifice. Help me to be that sacrifice because I am NOT able to do it on my own and desperately need your help! Help me to live every day of my life as it is my last!