Picture from the cover of Ernest Gordon’s book, Through the Valley of the Kwai.

To make it through each day, Father, I must lay my life into Your than capable hands. You know my comings and goings. You know the yearnings of my heart. You know my weaknesses. May I never stray from Your side. In You, I find my strength.
John 13:31-38 (<<click here to read the passage)
This story is from Ernest Gordon’s true account of life in a World War II Japanese prison camp in his book, Through the Valley of the Kwai. The camp was filled with Americans, Australians, and Britons who had helped build the infamous Bridge over the River Kwai. Early on a dog-eat-dog mentality had set in. Allies would steal from and cheat each other; men would sleep on their packs and yet have them stolen from under their heads. Survival was everything. The law of the jungle prevailed…until the news of Angus McGillivray’s death spread throughout the camp. No one could believe it! It wasn’t his death that shocked the men, but the reason he died.
Angus was an Argyll – a Scottish soldier – and they took their buddy system very seriously. Their buddy was called their “mucker” and they believed that it was literally up to each of them to make sure their “mucker” survived. The problem was Angus’ mucker was dying…everyone had given up on him…everyone but Angus.
Angus made up his mind that his friend would not die. Someone stole his mucker’s blanket. So, Angus gave him his own, telling him that he had “just come across an extra one.”
Likewise, every mealtime, Angus would get his rations and take them to his friend, stand over him and force him to eat them, stating that he was able to get “extra food.” Angus did everything to see that his buddy got what he needed to recover.
But as Angus’s mucker began to recover, Angus collapsed…and died of starvation complicated by exhaustion. He’d given his own food and shelter – everything he had—even his very life. The ramifications of his acts of love and unselfishness had a startling impact on the compound.
As word circulated of the reason for his death, the feel of the camp began to change. Men began to focus on their friends and the humanity of living beyond survival…of giving oneself away. Among other things, the camp soon had a church called the “Church Without Walls” that was so powerful, so compelling, that even the Japanese guards attended. The men began a university, a hospital, and a library system. For many of those men, this turnaround meant survival. The place was transformed…an all but smothered love revived, all because one man named Angus gave all he had for his friend.
Jesus takes an Old Testament command (Leviticus 19:18) deems it new and delivers it with a twist.

I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too are to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another.” John 13:34-35 AMP

The supreme lover of our souls calls us to love one another as He has loved us.
But the question that begs asking is, how are we doing with that? Sure, pockets of love exist. I wouldn’t say they are rare but truly loving others isn’t easy.
Love is more than…warm feelings; it is an attitude that reveals itself in action. How can we love others as Jesus loves us? By helping when it’s not convenient, by giving when it hurts, by devoting energy to others’ welfare rather than our own, by absorbing hurts from others without complaining or fighting back. This kind of loving is hard to do. That’s why people notice when we do it and know we are empowered by a supernatural source beyond ourselves.*

*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation

Sept 2nd, 2021, Thurs, 8:16 pm