On three different occasions over the past several weeks, Saturday afternoons found me following my husband around Lowe's, Scruggs, and Home Depot. These are not the places I would choose to go on a Saturday. I mean, I would never wake up and say, "You know, I really want to go Home Depot today and look around." I know it is often necessary to go places like this; but they are not places I would consider fun.
On the other hand, my husband quite enjoyed his time in each store. He loves tools. He does little projects around the house from time to time, so he loves checking out different things at Lowe's and Home Depot. In Scruggs he looked at guns, knives, cowboy boots, camping equipment and I can't remember what else. He was having fun. Mostly, I just followed him around. I wasn't nearly as entertained as he was, but I was with him and I enjoyed seeing him have such a good time.
We do things like this for those we love. I would much rather have been in a clothing store or a book store or maybe Hobby Lobby. But it was OK because the most important thing to me on those three Saturdays was that I was able to watch him enjoy himself. It wasn't about me. It was about him ... and it was worth it. I get my days, too. Sometimes (many times) love means doing something you don't really want to do.
I suppose everyone in the country knew yesterday was Valentine's Day. Love for that special someone was expressed in countless ways -- words, gifts, hugs, fine meals shared together. It's good to be able express our love to our sweethearts on February 14th; but we all know that love should really be expressed every day. I mean really, if we only did this once a year, how many relationships do you think would last? I'm thinking, probably not very many.
We all know that love is expressed in different ways. We say it to one another. We give physical affection. We buy gifts. We cook a special meal or block out a certain amount of special time for each other. And then sometimes we do things we don't really want to do.
What would that be? We all know this could be a number of different things. Sometimes the sacrifice is not really that big; sometimes it is. We might go somewhere we don't want to go ... spend time with people we hardly know; but they are friends or relatives of someone special to him. It might mean listening to unsolicited advice from his grandmother or putting up with his brother's spoiled children. (This could go either way folks. I'm speaking from the feminine side; but the guys put up with things like this, too).
Sometimes, it might be something much more serious than even this. Sometimes it really might mean giving up something for yourself so that another can have what they need or want. That might be for a child, a spouse, or a parent. It might mean running out in the middle of the night to pick up someone whose car has broken down on the side of the road. It might mean giving up your meal when someone has shown up unexpectedly at supper time.
We learn this kind of love from our Savior. Think about it. Do you think He really wanted to go that cross? Jesus begged God to let that cup pass from Him. He knew what was coming. He knew the pain and the shame He was about to endure. Jesus prayed to His Father for another way.
Yet there was no other way. Christ's blood was the only sacrifice for our sins. It was the only way that those who were about to crucify Him would ever even have the slightest chance of being saved. So He did what He did not want to do. He did this because He loved us. Out of His great mercy and grace and love, He put Himself in our place and paid the price for our sins.
I am not saying anything new here. We all know what He did for us; but it is important to think about. We need to be reminded of His sacrifice. Remembering what He did for us will give us the impetus we need to serve Him. Romans 12:1 is a very well known verse. Paul tells us we must give ourselves over to Christ -- we should present our bodies as a living sacrifice which is our reasonable service. Reasonable service? I would say so! His death was a sacrifice for us -- the ultimate sacrifice. And so giving our lives in service to Him -- is absolutely totally reasonable.
We are human and sometimes we forget this. Sometimes we forget the depth of His sacrifice -- the depth of His love. He set us free from sin and with that freedom we have access to the Father and hope of heaven IF we choose to serve Him. That is not always easy. Living in a predominantly "me, me, me" society, it is difficult to serve others.
I once had someone tell me they didn't go to visitations or funerals when someone they knew passed away. That person said they "just didn't like going to funeral homes." Well, I don't think I know anyone that likes to do that. We would really rather be somewhere else. It isn't easy to comfort someone who has lost a loved one. But we all know it is the right thing to do. Here our love and kindness is needed and means so much!
After working all day, maybe we would rather come home and relax than go to the church building a few extra nights that week and teach Vacation Bible School. Maybe we had rather take our regular Sunday afternoon nap than go visit the nursing home. We may need our sleep because we know we have to be at work the next day, but if someone needs you to spend the night with the hospital - that is what we do. We do these things out of love.
Love is service. Love is putting others first. How can we really say we love Christ, and yet not do some of the things we have mentioned? How can we tell our Redeemer who hung on a cross and died for all of us that we don't want to support a church activity on a Saturday, because after all we have worked all week and we need a day to ourselves?
We are human and sometimes we do need a rest; but sometimes we need to sacrifice.
Paul says in Galatians 5:13 that we should "through love serve one another." Consider his words (through inspiration) from I Corinthians 9:19 - "For though I be free from all men, yet I have made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more." Paul says he will gain more to Christ by being a servant.
When Jesus finished washing the dirty, grimy feet of the disciples He said to them, "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you." (John 13:14-15)
Then as Jesus begins to tell them He will only be with them just a little while longer, He says in vs. 34 - "A new commandment I give to you that you love one another just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another."
Other verses in the Bible speak of love and service - but I think these words of Jesus get the point across pretty well. He washed their feet and gave them an example of service. He told them they should be willing to be servants to each other. Then He tells them to love each other just as He has loved them. At that time, they might not have understood the depth of this command; but by the time they preached the first gospel sermon on the day of Pentecost, they came to know exactly what Jesus meant.
Love is wonderful; but it isn't just a feeling. Love is an action word and Jesus showed us that throughout His entire life. He asks us to follow His example. After all, it is our reasonable service.
Christ above all things,
Robin
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Thursday, February 13, 2014
One for All and All for One
My apologies to those of you who encourage me so much in my writing. These past few days have probably been the longest break I have taken in posting on the blog. Work has been quite hectic lately. By the time I am home - quite honestly, my mind has been too weary to put thoughts into words.
It is a good feeling to be able to post tonight. I am thankful that God has given me the opportunity. Our Heavenly Father loves us so much. He gives us so many opportunities to serve Him.
I don't know why, but a certain motto has been in my mind a lot lately and I don't really know what prompted me to think of it. I'm sure at some point you have of the Three Musketeers. I never read the original novel by Alexandre Dumas; but I've seen some of the movies made over the years. Do you remember their motto? It was "one for all and all for one." It was symbolic of the unity between them.
Ah, but Solomon tells us in Ecclesiastes 1:9 that there is no new thing under the sun. Once again we see that truth with this motto. The same thought is found in the scriptures.
Consider 2 Corinthians 5:14-15:
For the love of Christ controls us, because we have
concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore
all have died; and he died for all, that those who live
might no longer live for themselves but for him who for
their sake died and was raised. (ESV)
Don't you find that such a beautiful verse? In some ways it is a little confusing at first, but as you slowly and carefully read the passage, it begins to make sense. Paul says as Christians it is the love of Christ that controls us. That love controls him (and us) because we understand that He died for all of us. Christ is our "one for all," - that's pretty easy to see, right? And because He died for all of us --we all die to ourselves -- die to our life of sin. We die to sin so that we might live for Him. That's the "all for one" part!
It's a wonderful thought. Christ died for all of us because of His great love for us. As we understand His great love - we all die to ourselves; BUT we continue to live and we all live for Him because He died for us. I just think that is so cool! "All for one and one for all," originated with Christ Himself.
What a wonderful blessing to understand that God loved us enough to provide a way for our salvation before the world was ever created. God knew that we would need a Savior and because of His great love for us, Jesus was the one who volunteered for that! He lovingly and willingly gave His life for us so that we might live.
As John says, we love Him because He first loved us. So we willingly give our lives back to Him. That strong bond of unity is sealed when we make that commitment to Him. We confess that He is the Son of God. We repent of our sins and are baptized into Christ. We then become His and we naturally want to do what He would have us do.
All for one and one for all is a sign of unity and solidarity. The Three Musketeers were strongly united in their total devotion to each other and in their loyal service to the guard. They were great friends and because they knew each other so well and were so single minded in their devotion that together they were a formidable fighting force.
As Christians, who better to form this type of bond with than Jesus, our Redeemer? Jesus is always with us. He walks along with us each and every day. As long as we are seeking Him, that is. Jesus loves us so much and wants to be with us; but it must be our choice. We make the decision to devote ourselves to Him. Once we make that decision both Jesus and the Father will come to us and make their home with us. Consider John 14:23 - ".. If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."
Just as the three Musketeers increased their power and strength through their united devotion to one another, so our spiritual power and strength is increased. It is so reassuring to think of the power of God being on our side. It is invigorating to think of the power of God working in us and through us! Yet the Bible tells us this is true.
In Ephesians 3:16 it is Paul's prayer for the Christians in Ephesus that "according to the riches of His glory" God would "grant them to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being." The prayer continues through the next few verses and then in verse 20 he says that God is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us."
Well, it makes sense doesn't it? If we keep the commandments (words) of Christ, He will make His home with us. If He abides in our heart, then His power must be there too! Now does that mean that we have some kind of superhuman powers and we will be the world's next heroes? I think we all know the answer to that.
Does it mean we won't face hard times or that the devil will never tempt us again? No, that isn't what it means either. What it does mean is that He will answer our prayers. He will understand our hurts and our fears.
God will give us the power, might and strength --His power, might and strength to fight against the ugliness of the world. We will be able to tackle any temptation, any fear, any sadness that we face.
In other words, we will have His power working in us to help us overcome our obstacles. We just have to remember the power is there. With that power, we are strengthened and we have that peace that passes understanding. Let us remember to be strengthened with power through His spirit in our inner being.
I think it is well worth it to keep the words of Christ, so that He and our Heavenly Father will make their home with us.
Christ above all things,
Robin
It is a good feeling to be able to post tonight. I am thankful that God has given me the opportunity. Our Heavenly Father loves us so much. He gives us so many opportunities to serve Him.
I don't know why, but a certain motto has been in my mind a lot lately and I don't really know what prompted me to think of it. I'm sure at some point you have of the Three Musketeers. I never read the original novel by Alexandre Dumas; but I've seen some of the movies made over the years. Do you remember their motto? It was "one for all and all for one." It was symbolic of the unity between them.
Ah, but Solomon tells us in Ecclesiastes 1:9 that there is no new thing under the sun. Once again we see that truth with this motto. The same thought is found in the scriptures.
Consider 2 Corinthians 5:14-15:
For the love of Christ controls us, because we have
concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore
all have died; and he died for all, that those who live
might no longer live for themselves but for him who for
their sake died and was raised. (ESV)
Don't you find that such a beautiful verse? In some ways it is a little confusing at first, but as you slowly and carefully read the passage, it begins to make sense. Paul says as Christians it is the love of Christ that controls us. That love controls him (and us) because we understand that He died for all of us. Christ is our "one for all," - that's pretty easy to see, right? And because He died for all of us --we all die to ourselves -- die to our life of sin. We die to sin so that we might live for Him. That's the "all for one" part!
It's a wonderful thought. Christ died for all of us because of His great love for us. As we understand His great love - we all die to ourselves; BUT we continue to live and we all live for Him because He died for us. I just think that is so cool! "All for one and one for all," originated with Christ Himself.
What a wonderful blessing to understand that God loved us enough to provide a way for our salvation before the world was ever created. God knew that we would need a Savior and because of His great love for us, Jesus was the one who volunteered for that! He lovingly and willingly gave His life for us so that we might live.
As John says, we love Him because He first loved us. So we willingly give our lives back to Him. That strong bond of unity is sealed when we make that commitment to Him. We confess that He is the Son of God. We repent of our sins and are baptized into Christ. We then become His and we naturally want to do what He would have us do.
All for one and one for all is a sign of unity and solidarity. The Three Musketeers were strongly united in their total devotion to each other and in their loyal service to the guard. They were great friends and because they knew each other so well and were so single minded in their devotion that together they were a formidable fighting force.
As Christians, who better to form this type of bond with than Jesus, our Redeemer? Jesus is always with us. He walks along with us each and every day. As long as we are seeking Him, that is. Jesus loves us so much and wants to be with us; but it must be our choice. We make the decision to devote ourselves to Him. Once we make that decision both Jesus and the Father will come to us and make their home with us. Consider John 14:23 - ".. If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."
Just as the three Musketeers increased their power and strength through their united devotion to one another, so our spiritual power and strength is increased. It is so reassuring to think of the power of God being on our side. It is invigorating to think of the power of God working in us and through us! Yet the Bible tells us this is true.
In Ephesians 3:16 it is Paul's prayer for the Christians in Ephesus that "according to the riches of His glory" God would "grant them to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being." The prayer continues through the next few verses and then in verse 20 he says that God is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us."
Well, it makes sense doesn't it? If we keep the commandments (words) of Christ, He will make His home with us. If He abides in our heart, then His power must be there too! Now does that mean that we have some kind of superhuman powers and we will be the world's next heroes? I think we all know the answer to that.
Does it mean we won't face hard times or that the devil will never tempt us again? No, that isn't what it means either. What it does mean is that He will answer our prayers. He will understand our hurts and our fears.
God will give us the power, might and strength --His power, might and strength to fight against the ugliness of the world. We will be able to tackle any temptation, any fear, any sadness that we face.
In other words, we will have His power working in us to help us overcome our obstacles. We just have to remember the power is there. With that power, we are strengthened and we have that peace that passes understanding. Let us remember to be strengthened with power through His spirit in our inner being.
I think it is well worth it to keep the words of Christ, so that He and our Heavenly Father will make their home with us.
Christ above all things,
Robin
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