No Greater Love

Gunshots—they were distant, but the sound jolted through Kor’s body like bolts of lightning. He knew with every shot, another of his comrades could fall.

Crack! His friend Finn was going to be a doctor.

Crack! Mika dreamed of being a professional athlete.

Crack! Zade just wanted to get home.

In the trenches, Kor always thought about how many were lost, praying that
he wouldn’t be next.

“Fight the good fight, Kor,†his dad had said before boarding the military jet. “There is no greater love…†his mother had said tearfully when they got the news that Dad wouldn’t be coming home.

“You’re my hero,†his little brother had declared the first time Kor tried on his uniform.

“You know,†Kor had answered, “I’m fighting for lives that have already been saved by someone else. Jesus is the real hero.â€

Kor froze at the memory. Without Christ, there was no hope. He glanced at the others around him, crouched in the shadow of the trenches. Did Finn, Mika, and Zade know?

Suddenly, from somewhere in the darkness, an object whistled through the air and hit the dirt with a thud: a grenade.

Kor’s heart skipped a beat as he stared at the weapon about to destroy a trench full of soldiers. The memories swirled around him like a blur of silver stars in the blackness: “Fight the good fight.†“There is no greater love…†“You’re my hero.†Then he thought of a night long ago, of dropping to his knees, asking for forgiveness, and putting his trust in Christ.

“Is Jesus your hero?†his little brother had asked.

Kor stood and began to run.

“You bet.â€

Others needed to know Him. They needed what Kor already had. He jumped through the air, crossing the last few paces in a moment.

They needed Hope.

He threw himself onto the grenade. An explosion shook the ground.

• Read Romans 5:8. How did Kor’s sacrifice in today’s reading point to Jesus’ sacrifice for us? How does Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross show His love for us?
• Did you know that Christ gave His life to save yours from sin and death? Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus showed us the greatest kind of love. Who is a trusted Christian you can talk to about Jesus’ sacrifice?

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13 (NLT)

Read Verses:

1 Corinthians 13