“I would have taken a bullet for you.”
This line was from an old movie—Dave–that I watched briefly last night. It is a pledge of real love. Surely it has resonated through many movies and many lives—spoken or lived out by law enforcement officers, body guards, parents, friends, lovers.
It is demonstrated by every member of the armed forces as they enter harm’s way to protect and defend. Probably each of us knows someone who made that sacrifice, who has taken a bullet for you/me/all of us, in the line of duty.
And of course, we know the one who made the ultimate offering: “We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us.” (1 John 3:16, NLT) In Hebrews we understand that His great love for us—and the joy of being reconciled with us—made Him willing to endure the agony of the cross (Hebrews 12:2).
I am daily and eternally grateful that He laid down His life for me.
But there is more. The apostle John continues in 1 John 3:16-17: “So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?”
Then John follows that penetrating question with this bullet-taking admonition: “Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.”
For whom would you take a bullet? What might that sacrificial love look like in your life today?
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Excellent…Father is speaking very clearly in this hour. You have expressed His heart with tenderness. Thank you!
Great word! Just stumbled upon your blog-glad I did!! I am on staff with CCC in North Carolina. I didn’t even know you had a blog, but I am following it now. Yea for blogs!
http://www.reflectionsofasojourner.blogspot.com
This blog entry gave me a chance to examine how the little (and large) acts of kindness are all ways of “taking a bullet” for someone. It is interesting to layer this strong visual picture of “taking a bullet” over an ordinary act of kindness, and see that they are more similar than they are different. Thanks for sharing that perspective.
I love this post, Judy. Thanks!
One of my heroes growing up was “Skinny” Williams. He was the local driver’s license examiner. But not for the courage he showed in getting in the car with all those new drivers. He wore an artificial right arm. He was a drill instructor and one of his students froze while learning how to throw a grenade. Skinny grabbed the grenade from him and threw it away, but it exploded close enough to take his hand. Skinny put his life on the line and “took a bullet” for his trainees. That’s a hero.
It’s interesting that this idea of love is finding a place in modern culture. Bruno Mars’ hit “Grenade” echoes the same themes:
I’d catch a grenade for ya
Throw my hand on a blade for ya
I’d jump in front of a train for ya
You know I’d do anything for ya
See I would go through all this pain
Take a bullet straight through my brain
Yes I would die for ya
But you won’t do the same
Apparently, Bruno would do anything for his lover but be rejected…because if she won’t do the same, he’ll right a song about how much better his love is than hers.
Only Jesus’ love is perfect!
Thanks, Nick. Yep–only Jesus’ love is perfect!