"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for our brothren." 1 John 3:16

....we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren...
we are to love the brethren. We are also called to love our enemies and those who hate us (Matthew 5:44), but John calls us to easier test - if we can’t even love our brothers and sisters, what kind of Christians are we?

...Lay down our lives...
this verse reminds us that love, often involves sacrifice. I think I can lay down my life in one great, heroic gesture; but God calls us to lay down our lives piece by piece, little by little in small, but important ways every day.