WE CAN BECAUSE JESUS SHOWED US HOW
“The best use of life is love.
The best expression of love is time.
The best time to love is now.”
—pastor Rick Warren
After Jesus demonstrated servanthood when He washed His disciples’ feet during the Last Supper.
After Jesus was betrayed by Judas.
After Jesus comforted His disciples and revealed to them His Father’s will.
After Jesus promised the fulfillment of the Holy Spirit.
After Jesus taught them how to rely, to trust in the True Vine—in Him (Jesus) & in the Vinedresser—in Father God.
After Jesus promised to abide in them if they remained faithful, walking truly as His disciples.
After so much, Jesus said to His faithful followers these words—
“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”
(John 15: 13)
Today, we who are followers of Jesus, who are Christians, who have been saved by the grace of God, who are filled with God’s Holy Spirit—
Yes, on this day, we are reminded that we are able to do, we can, we are to be, & we may need to endure—so much.
We Can Because Jesus Showed Us How.
May We Lay Down Our—
Our selfishness.
Our pride.
Our confidence.
Our “want to.”
Our desires.
Our calendar.
Our resentment.
Our unforgiveness.
Our hurts.
Our past failures.
Our fears.
Our rights.
Our bitterness.
Our anger.
Our finances.
Our properties.
Our arrogance.
Our. . .EVERYTHING!
Why, we might ask, should we lay down our—life—for our friends—for our brothers & sisters—for our foes—for our LORD? Yes, Why should we?
The answer is so super simple.
The answer can be summed up in one single word—JESUS!
We SHOULD & We OUGHT TO & We CAN & We MUST—Because Jesus died so we might be saved, so we might be set free!
Jesus is alive & He lives inside every person who believes.
The Holy Spirit filled our being at the moment of our salvation.
God the Father sent His only Son Jesus so we might come to know Him.
- We can because Jesus did!
- We can because the Holy Spirit leads us & reveals to us how!
- We can because God sent His Son to save us forevermore!
- We can!
- We should!
- We ought to!
- We must!
Chris McClarney sings a most wonderful reminder WHO our faith resides within—for today, for tomorrow, & FOREVERMORE!
Take time to read the LORD’S Word.
Then listen to this beautiful melody—“Speak To The Mountains”
- May we choose this day to serve our LORD.
- May we choose this day to lay down our lives for our friends.
- May we choose this day to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
- May we choose this day to lay down our lives for our enemies.
- May we choose this day to lay down our everything because Jesus showed us how to—as He stretched out His arms wide upon the cross and give His life so each of us could be saved.
We can because Jesus showed us how to love as He loved.
“It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings,
partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated.
For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one.
Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.
For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.
FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE,
HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY.
BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH;
AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.
But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.”
(Hebrews 10: 31-39)
Finally, let us listen to the words of the psalmist & be reminded WHO we serve.
“The LORD reigns, He is clothed with
Majesty;
The LORD has clothed and girded
Himself with strength;
Indeed, the world is firmly established,
It will not be moved.
Your throne is established from of old;
You are from everlasting. . . .
O LORD, forevermore”
(Psalm 93: 1-2 & 5)