As we wrap up our series today on “What Does It Mean to Love My Neighbor?” let us keep in mind our Lord Jesus Christ and His command for us to love one another.

Walang pag-ibig na hihigit pa kaysa pag-ibig ng isang taong nag-aalay ng kanyang buhay para sa kanyang mga kaibigan.  

Juan 15:13

Matagal nang magkapitbahay ang Pamilyang Reyes at Pamilyang Nicolas. In fact, naging playmates ang mga unica hija nila, si Bettina at si Grace. Sa sobrang close, naging mag-BFF sila when they reached their college years.

Unfortunately, tinamaan ng matinding sakit si Bettina in her 20s. Because of her undiagnosed genetic hypertension, her kidneys were severely damaged: Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 5. She cried to the Lord, “Why me? Ambata ko pa, Lord. Give me a chance to live longer.”

Little did she know that God was already preparing His answer through Grace. Her best friend told her parents that she would like to donate a kidney to Bettina. After all, they shared the same blood type. They could be a perfect match.

It’s amazing how one person can give so much to a friend. We call a person who  gives his friend thousands of pesos generous but what about a person who gives a part of himself, literally?!

Jesus talked about this extraordinary kind of love in John 15. He said, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (vv. 12–13, NIV). For Jesus, this wasn’t just moral advice. He Himself displayed this kind of love when He died for us on the cross. What love!

Grace kept her kidney donation a secret to her friend. Nalaman na lang ito ni Bettina afterwards. While both were still weak from surgery, Grace and Bettina talked. Through her tears, Bettina thanked her friend. All Grace could say was, “I won’t give my kidney to anyone else but you.” After that day, hindi lang sila magkapitbahay kundi magkapit-buhay pa.

We hope your hearts and minds have been renewed for a desire to love God and to love our neighbors. Do join us again tomorrow for another inspiring message from the Word of God!