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Respect & Reputation

The first words off the page of my Bible this morning were respect and reputation.

So, why am I using a picture of a wallet filled with money?

A large part of our society is striving for success. There is nothing wrong with that. In fact, the Lord desires for us to prosper and have good success.

“Always remember what is written in that book of law. Speak about that book and study it day and night. Then you can be sure to obey what is written there. If you do this, you will be wise and successful in everything you do. 9 Remember, I commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:8-9 ERV

The key is the phrase good success. If success is obtained in one area of life but destroys another it can’t be considered good. There are people all across our country that are gaining success in their careers and businesses but loosing their families. That’s not good.

“A good reputation and respect are worth much more than silver and gold.” Proverbs 22:1 CEV

I went to a job interview once and was asked if I saw something that I thought was unethical being done in the company, what would I do. I gave an honest answer and said I would ask  someone about it. I couldn’t just stand by and ignore something like that.

I didn’t get the job.

The Lord sees us as valuable. He treasures us, He takes delight in us as His children.

“ I tell you not to worry about your life. Don’t worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food or clothing? 26 Look at the birds in the sky! They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren’t you worth more than birds?” Matthew 6:25-26 CEV

The Lord wants us to be more concerned about having a godly reputation and gaining respect than obtaining wealth. Making the right choices, setting the right priorities will bring everything else in line.

“Don’t worry and say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 That’s what those people who don’t know God are always thinking about. Don’t worry, because your Father in heaven knows that you need all these things. 33 What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you to do. Then he will give you all these other things you need.” Matthew 6:31-33 ERV

When making the big decisions we should ask if this will cost me my good reputation, the respect of my friends and family and if it reflects godly character. If the answer isn’t a strong yes then we should drop that and do something else.

“Respect and serve the Lord! Your reward will be wealth, a long life, and honor.” Proverbs 22:4 CEV

Our Father is watching over for us and He wants our reputation to be protected.

 

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Has Life Left You Frayed?

Do you know what tensile strength is? And why it’s important?

This is the definition from the Simple English Wikipedia. “Tensile strength is a measurement of the force required to pull something such as rope, wire, or a structural beam to the point where it breaks. The tensile strength of a material is the maximum amount of tensile stress that it can take before failure, for example breaking.”

It’s important to know the tensile strength of wire cable when it’s being used to lift or suspend extremely heavy objects. I’ve seen pictures, disastrous pictures, at high-rise construction sites when a cable breaks and objects come falling to the ground. The strength of the cable was overestimated.

Equally important is knowing the tensile strength of a rope, chain or tie down strap that is used  for towing. If someone is stuck in snow or mud and you’re going to try to pull them out, it’s essential that to know how much weight the tow rope can handle.  If it’s not strong enough it will snap before the vehicle is freed from its plight.

But what does all this have to do with us? Glad you asked.

If we try to lift a load emotionally that is too heavy or we try to carry it for too long, we can come dangerously close to reaching our maximum strength and we can snap.  Ever been to that point? Perhaps you’ve end said that’s the straw that broke the camel’s back – I’m done with you, I’m done with this. It’s over. I can’t take anymore!

What a horrible place to be? We weren’t made to carry those types of burdens or handle that kind of stress. That’s why God instructs us all through His word that He is our strength.

“Moses and the Israelites sang this song in praise of the Lord:  I sing praises to the Lord  for his great victory! He has thrown the horses and their riders into the sea.

2 The Lord is my strength, the reason for my song, because he has saved me. I praise and honor the Lord— he is my God and the God of my ancestors. 3 The Lord is his name, and he is a warrior!” Exodus 15:1-3 CEV

This is part of the song that Moses and the Israelites sang on the other side of the Red Sea. They had fled Egypt in the middle of the night and pharaoh was pursuing them with the armies of Egypt. They came to the Red Sea and the Lord displayed his strength by holding back the waters so the people of Israel could cross on dry ground. When the Egyptians started to follow after them the Lord released the waters and all the Egyptians drown.  They were celebrating God’s strength and saving power.

“I love You, O Lord, my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock, and my safe place, and the One Who takes me out of trouble. My God is my rock, in Whom I am safe. He is my safe-covering, my saving strength, and my strong tower. 3 I call to the Lord, Who has the right to be praised. And I am saved from those who hate me.” Psalm 18:1-3 NLV

King David wrote this praise to the Lord after he was delivered from the hand of King Saul. Saul hated David and hunted him like a wild animal. Saul was ruthless but David would not do anything to harm Saul because he was the king God had anointed. David knew he was to be the new king of Israel but he had integrity and trust in God which kept him from harming Saul.

“I praise you, Lord, for answering my prayers. 7 You are my strong shield, and I trust you completely. You have helped me, and I will celebrate and thank you in song. 8 You give strength to your people, Lord, and you save and protect your chosen ones.” Psalm 28:6-8 CEV

God gives us strength not of our own ability but by His ability.

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The God Who lives forever is the Lord, the One Who made the ends of the earth. He will not become weak or tired. His understanding is too great for us to begin to know. 29 He gives strength to the weak. And He gives power to him who has little strength. 30 Even very young men get tired and become weak and strong young men trip and fall. 31 But they who wait upon the Lord will get new strength. They will rise up with wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not become weak.” Isaiah 40:28-31 NLV

When we feel like the rope or the cable that is holding our world together is beginning to fray, God is there! He gives strength to us when we become weary. When we come to our end, He is just beginning.

Tensile strength. How much can we take without breaking?  God wants us to lay down our rope or cable and let Him use his.

“I can do all things because Christ gives me the strength.” Philippians 4:13 NLV

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Lessons From the Pumpkin Patch

Fall. The joys of autumn. Cooler temperatures, shorter days. The year’s final harvest.

When we lived in the Northwest, each Fall there would always be a field trip to the pumpkin patch. There was an area close to  town called Green Bluff and that was the place to go.

We loaded up in the school buses; teachers, students, parent helpers, and headed up the hill for a day in the country. When we arrived at the designated farm everyone got onto a wagon lined with hay bales and a tractor would pull the wagon out to the field of pumpkins where the kids could pick out their own pumpkin to take home.

It was a wonderful day; laughing children, happy teachers, cool air and a cup of hot apple cider before heading back. What a treat!

But it was called a pumpkin patch because the farmer had planted pumpkins. Well, of course. That’s what you would expect, right? If you plant pumpkin seeds you expect pumpkins, not turnips or zucchini or cabbage or spaghetti squash – no, pumpkins. Can you image how shocked the farmer would be if he went out and found that there were potatoes coming up where he planted pumpkins?

Well naturally we know that couldn’t happen. Then why do we think it should be any other way in the other areas of our life?

We burn the candle at both ends. We get very little sleep, don’t drink enough water, aren’t eating right  and we end up stressed out, overly tired and sick. But we seem to be surprised when that happens.

Or how about this? We are cranky, rude, sarcastic, unsympathetic and unconcerned about those around us yet we are surprised when we receive the same treatment. Why should that be shocking? If we plant the negative things of life, they are going to grow.

Jesus compared God’s word to seed. He said if we (our hearts) are good ground, the seeds will root, grow and produce a harvest.

It’s a fact of nature and it’s a spiritual principle as well.

“Make no mistake about this: You can never make a fool out of God. Whatever you plant is what you’ll harvest. 8 If you plant in the soil of your corrupt nature, you will harvest destruction. But if you plant in the soil of your spiritual nature, you will harvest everlasting life. 9 We can’t allow ourselves to get tired of living the right way. Certainly, each of us will receive everlasting life at the proper time, if we don’t give up. 10 Whenever we have the opportunity, we have to do what is good for everyone, especially for the family of believers.” Galatians 6:7-10 GW

What we plant in our lives is our choice. Just like the farmer, he wants a crop of pumpkins so he plants pumpkin seeds. He will have to go out occasionally and pull some weeds that pop up but he knows what his harvest will be because he’s confident of the seeds he put in the earth.

Now we all have had times that some of the seeds  we’ve planted weren’t good ones. What we need to do about those is pray for crop failure. We ask the Lord to help those seeds die before they sprout and if they should come up we take a hoe and chop them out.

Here’s verse 9 from the King James Version:

“ And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Harvest is hard work but well worth it.

Not only did the school kids have field trips to the pumpkin patch but those farmers made an event out of harvest. There were other crops too; corn, apples, peaches. So every weekend for several weeks they would open their farms to the folks from town. There would be hay rides, a corn maze, cider, fresh pies – apple and pumpkin. This was harvest and it was fun.

Just think, if we plant the right seeds we can expect a bumper crop. A crop that we can share with friends, family and others.

 

 

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A Blank Screen

Yesterday I sat down at my computer to resume work on a project I started on Monday. I found the document name and tried to open the file, nothing was there.

It was all gone! My heart sank and I tried not to panic. It was a creative writing project, a book.  I had some basic guidelines written down but I would develop the thoughts more fully as I went along and now it was gone.

I spent the better part of my day searching through the files on my computer to see if somehow I had renamed it or moved it to another folder and I even looked through all the documents in my desktop trash.  I sent a text to my son-in-law Stephen and asked for his assistance.

He was able to call me and we talked it through. Then he said those words I really didn’t want to hear, “unfortunately Mom, it’s gone”. You see, the program I was working in was a temporary file and it automatically deleted after a specified time. I hadn’t realized that when I started the project.

This morning I woke with a verse running through my mind.

“My people are destroyed because they have no knowledge.” Hosea 4:6a ERV

Not having enough knowledge of the program I was using caused me to lose my document. As emotionally taxing as that is, it was only words on a page. Maybe I won’t be able to recreate it exactly but I still have the basics.

Then I started a search on the word “knowledge”. Of course there are many verses in Proverbs that deal with gaining knowledge and wisdom.

“If you listen to him (God), you will understand what is just and fair and how to do what is right. 10 You will gain wisdom, and knowledge will bring you joy.

11 Planning ahead will protect you, and understanding will guard you.” Proverbs 2:9-11 ERV

Knowledge will bring you joy! I needed some joy.

Sometimes we get so caught up in our day-to-day activities that we lose sight of what’s really important. Just yesterday morning I was reminding all of us that God has a plan, a good plan, for us; one that gives us a good future filled with hope.  Then a few hours later I almost forgot that.

This morning I have a deeper understanding of God’s peace and letting it guard my emotions.

“Don’t worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks for what you have. 7 And because you belong to Christ Jesus, God’s peace will stand guard over all your thoughts and feelings. His peace can do this far better than our human minds.” Philippians 4:6-7 ERV

I don’t know what your “blank screen” is. It may be a health issue, it may be a problem at work, possibly a relationship that has been deleted. I’m here to tell you that God wants to send his peace into your situation to guard your thoughts and emotions.

Father, I thank you for bringing peace to my turmoil. Thank you that Your plans for my future are good!

 

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God’s Thoughts About Me

How do you define the word righteous? And along that same line, define the word righteousness.   Think about that for a few moments.

Let me give you a simple definition of righteous. It was one that my college professor gave in class years ago. Righteous: being made right with God. Is that how we see ourselves – right with God?

“ Christ had no sin, but God made him become sin so that in Christ we could be right with God.” II Corinthians 5:21 ERV

That’s the way God sees us. The great exchange. Jesus, who had never sinned, took on our sins when He died on the cross and in exchange for our sin, gave us His righteousness. His right-standing with God became ours. That is absolutely amazing!

Isaiah wrote that our self-righteousness is like filthy rags. Our efforts to make ourselves in right-standing with God is, at its best, rubbish.

My dad was a master mechanic. He worked on large equipment, keeping it running and fixing it when it broke down. When he would come home his clothes were filthy and he would often have dirty towels he had used to wipe his hands on. I remember Mom telling him to throw those dirty things in the trash, there was no point in trying to wash them, they wouldn’t come clean.

That’s the image that would come to mind when I heard that phrase, filthy rags. Now contrast that image with this one.

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the earth brings forth its bud, As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.” Isaiah 61:10-11 NKJV

Dirty, greasy, grimy clothes or the elegant apparel of a bride groom, how do we think God sees us?  Because of Christ, He sees us decked out in His finest.

“But Christ died for us while we were still sinners (dirty, greasy), and by this God showed how much he loves us.

9 We have been made right with God by the blood sacrifice of Christ. So through Christ we will surely be saved from God’s anger. 10 I mean that while we were God’s enemies, he made friends with us through his Son’s death. And the fact that we are now God’s friends (righteous) makes it even more certain that he will save us through his Son’s life. 11 And not only will we be saved, but we also rejoice right now in what God has done for us through our Lord Jesus Christ. It is because of Jesus that we are now God’s friends.” Romans 5:8-11 ERV

I titled this morning’s blog God’s Thoughts About Me. Do you see it now? He thinks we’re righteous, in right standing with Him and these verses in Romans say that He calls us his friends. God the Father doesn’t hate us – He isn’t even mad at us.

He loves us!

Now for the final word on what God thinks about us. The first version of this verse uses the word “thoughts” and other versions say “plans”. I wanted you to see them both

“ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11 KJV

“I say this because I know the plans that I have for you.” This message is from the Lord. “I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future. 12 Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will search for me, and when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 ERV

God’s thoughts about us are those of a loving Father. He has good plans for us, He doesn’t want to harm us. Instead He gives us hope and a good future. As we go about our day, it’s quite possible that thoughts will come to mind that are counter to the thoughts that God has of us. Don’t let those thoughts linger, replace them with what God thinks of us.

Trust God! His thoughts toward us are good.

 

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Lessons From A Barking Dog

Remember a few days back when I was relishing the quiet of my home and neighborhood? Well…last night was anything but quiet!

About midnight the dog across the street started barking. I’m sure he thought he was being helpful, protecting us from some unseen villain but he went on for over an hour.

There had to be  a good explanation. A lone coyote meandering through or possibly some javelina munching on the prickly pear we have planted in the yard. I did not feel any safer because of his duty-bound need to bark. Only annoyed!

So, this morning when I woke all I could think of was going back to sleep. Yes, I almost stayed in bed for another hour’s sleep but I would have missed out on my cherished quiet time. I knew the Lord would understand that I had been awake half the night, of course He would.

Quiet time isn’t something that God demands of me. I’m not going to be punished because I sleep in every now and then. No, not at all. Quiet time is “my” time to charge my spiritual battery before I start my day. It’s time I get to talk one-on-one with my Father and get His insight and wisdom for things that I am facing. It’s my time to pray for those I have promised I would pray and for others who have never asked me too but are on my heart and in my thoughts.

As I was putting food out for Glory and thinking I wished I was still in bed I had a Scripture come to mind.

“He gives me green pastures to lie in. He leads me by calm pools of water.3 He restores my strength. He leads me on right paths to show that he is good.” Psalm 23:2-3 ERV. 

That one Scripture is the one I will hold on to today. You see the word “restore”. Right at the beginning of it are these four letters  R-E-S-T. I can depend on the Lord to give me rest today. He will restore my strength. He will give me all that I need to be productive and to be an example of His strength working through me.

I’ll leave you with one more verse as I close.

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” I Thessalonians 5:18 KJV

This verse doesn’t say we are supposed to give thanks for everything but in everything. My desire to chuck rocks at the neighbor’s dog last night was not a way of giving thanks. Sorry Lord.

When we are thankful we have a God perspective instead of a problem perspective.

Thank you Lord that You are bigger than the barking dogs in our lives. Thank you that You give us rest when life seems to drain us of our energy and ambition. Thank you for restoring our joy and anything else that has been siphoned off in aggravating circumstances.  Thank you!

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Same Only Different

Had the strangest experience last night. Dave and I were sitting in the living room watching a movie and we both started having problems with allergies, or at least that’s what I am claiming.

We both began to get the sniffles and I my eyes started to water. Ok, let’s face it – it wasn’t allergies at all, it was the movie. It had me crying. I would highly recommend you watching the movie or reading the book, Same Kind of Different As Me.

This movie portrayed how we fall in to the trap of judging others just by their outward appearance. My, that has been going on for a very long time. When the Lord sent Samuel out to find a king for Israel he went to David’s father and  he looked for a tall, muscular, mature man. However, God had different criteria.

“When Jesse and his sons arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the man who the Lord has chosen.”

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Eliab is tall and handsome, but don’t judge by things like that. God doesn’t look at what people see. People judge by what is on the outside, but the Lord looks at the heart. Eliab is not the right man.” I Samuel 16:6-7 ERV

“Jesse showed seven of his sons to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these men.”11 Then he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”

Jesse answered, “No, I have another son—my youngest, but he is out taking care of the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him. Bring him here. We won’t sit down to eat until he arrives.”

12 Jesse sent someone to get his youngest son. This son was a good-looking, healthy young man. He was very handsome. The Lord said to Samuel, “Get up and anoint him. He is the one.” I Samuel 16:10-12 ERV

Jesse, David’s father, hadn’t even considered that his youngest son was qualified or good enough to meet with Samuel. David was left out with the sheep when the priest came to dinner. But God knew who He wanted, he was looking for someone with a heart for Him.

Jesus never looked at a man or woman’s appearance or their occupation when He was here on earth. He followed his Father’s example and associated with those who had opened their hearts to God. It didn’t matter that they were fishermen, tax collectors, prostitutes and others of low esteem.

James, the brother of Jesus, gave this instruction in the book of the Bible he wrote.

“My dear brothers and sisters, you are believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. So don’t treat some people better than others. 2 Suppose someone comes into your meeting wearing very nice clothes and a gold ring. At the same time a poor person comes in wearing old, dirty clothes. 3 You show special attention to the person wearing nice clothes…

5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters. God chose the poor people in the world to be rich in faith. He chose them to receive the kingdom God promised to those who love him…

8 One law rules over all other laws. This royal law is found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor[a] the same as you love yourself.”[b] If you obey this law, you are doing right. 9 But if you are treating one person as more important than another, you are sinning. You are guilty of breaking God’s law.” James 2:1-9 ERV

I will tell you that I was convicted by that movie last night. I felt great compassion for the people who were playing the roles. This is a true story but I had to honestly ask myself if I would have reacted with the same loving heart that they did. I pray I would have.

I find myself asking the Lord to show me areas in my life where I need to grow and change. Then I sit down to relax for an evening and watch a movie and God shows up and teaches me a life lesson.

The same loving God has blessed each person on this earth with air to breathe and the sun that shines. He sees a divine purpose in each of us.

We may be different but He loves us all the same!

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Acts of Kindness

You’ve probably heard me say this before but this morning I am living proof of practice-what-you-preach.

On a number of occasions I have been asked “how long should I read the Bible each day”. My answer is always the same. Read until is speaks to you, then stop and meditate on those verses.

That’s exactly what I am doing this morning with some of the verses from Proverbs 15. Right from the beginning of the chapter the verses began to jump off the page and into my heart.

“A gentle answer makes anger disappear, but a rough answer makes it grow.” verse 1 ERV

“Kind words are like a life-giving tree, but lying words will crush your spirit.” verse 4 ERV

“ The lips of the wise spread much learning, but the minds of fools do not.” verse 7 NLV

“ A quick temper causes fights, but patience brings peace and calm.” verse 18 ERV

“Good people think before they answer, but the wicked do not, and what they say causes trouble.” verse 28 ERV

Yes, it didn’t take me long to realize that the Lord wanted me to watch what I say today and to make my words kind. Sometimes one of the greatest kindnesses we can show someone is not speaking our mind.  That doesn’t mean that we are to be hypocritical, no, just thoughtful in the words we speak.

A co-worker who has just been ridiculed publicly doesn’t need us to be critical. A fellow student who has just been embarrassed in class doesn’t need our teasing. The cashier who just received a tongue lashing from a patron doesn’t need our words of impatience. No, in each situation they need someone who will speak words of kindness.

So often people think acts of kindness are some grand gesture but quite the opposite. Speaking words with no sarcasm or demeaning tone are certainly acts of kindness.  Showing people respect by using please, thank you, yes Ma’am, no Sir, and I appreciate that, are words of kindness.

Thinking before we speak and not loosing our tempers are acts of kindness. We become a true example of Jesus when we watch over the words we speak.

I trust these verses will speak to volumes to all of us as we go through our day. I pray that we all listen to our words before they leave our lips. I pray that our words will be life-giving, spread learning and bringing peace.

Lord, thank you for pointing out to me that my words need to be well-chosen. I desire to bring acts of kindness to those around me through my words.

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Sounds of Silence

Yesterday morning I was amazed at the silence of the early morning.

 

Normally I will hear the dogs in the neighborhood barking, coyotes howling, an early bird warbling its song but there was nothing. It was almost unnerving. I had the doors open to let in the cool morning air and with it came the silence.

I almost hated to do any keyboarding because the touch of the keys broke into the absolute quiet and disturbed my time alone with the Father.

Quiet.

This morning my experience is the same. The last several days we have been blessed with a steady rain, a soaker. Maybe all the animals are holed up and staying dry. That might be the reason for the silence. It is heavenly!

Having this time alone with my Father is wonderful. One of my favorite hymns when I was girl is In the Garden. It still is one of my favorites. And this morning I am singing it in my heart as I treasure these quiet moments with Him.

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.

Refrain

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

Sitting here this morning while it’s still dark  and feeling the cool of the fall air, down to 55 this morning, enjoying the warmth of a good cup of coffee and seeking the Father for the day’s direction, I am very thankful.

Thankful that my Father is in control.  He hasn’t fallen off His throne, His omniscience is superior to the knowledge of the world’s wisest men and His omnipresence penetrates to the farthest reaches of the universe. With all He has before Him this day He says to me, come and get to know me better.

“My Father has given me everything, and he is the only one who knows the Son. The only one who truly knows the Father is the Son. But the Son wants to tell others about the Father, so that they can know him too.” Matthew 11:27 CEV

Jesus has taken the time to tell us about the Father and through what Christ has done we’ve been adopted by the Father. We can call Him “Abba Father” (Papa or Daddy) and we can experience firsthand His love and compassion.

In the silence, I feel His embrace and sense His love. In a small way, I imagine how things might have been when Jesus would pull away from the crowds for time alone with the Father.

I don’t have to have all the answers and I don’t have to learn by “hard knocks”. I can trust the Father and learn from Him.

“With all your heart you must trust the LORD and not your own judgment. 6 Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow.” Proverbs 3:5-6 CEV

Well, the birds are telling me  it’s time to start the day. Let the Father lead you. Take time to enjoy the sounds of silence!

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What Do You Mean By That

Dave and I were having a conversation the other day about phrases that are commonly used; figures of speech or colloquialisms. Neither one of us really fell into that habit.

“To die for” has been a pretty popular phrase. It has been joined to clothing, food, movies, entertainment, cars and sports.

Colloquialism. col·lo·qui·al·ism. NOUN  1. a word or phrase that is not formal or literary, typically one used in ordinary or familiar conversation.

So let me ask, what’s to die for in  life?  Family…our faith…our neighbor…our country?

Christ looked at us and said “You’re to die for”. And He did.

“Christ died for us at a time when we were helpless and sinful. 7 No one is really willing to die for an honest person, though someone might be willing to die for a truly good person. 8 But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful.

9 But there is more! Now that God has accepted us because Christ sacrificed his life’s blood, we will also be kept safe from God’s anger. 10 Even when we were God’s enemies, he made peace with us, because his Son died for us. Yet something even greater than friendship is ours. Now that we are at peace with God, we will be saved by his Son’s life.” Romans 5:6-10 CEV

I think this morning is the first time I have really stopped and looked at verse 9.  Verses 6-8 focus on the amazing depth of Christ’s love for us; love beyond measure. Love that gave up all, His very life, for us. That would be enough for anyone, right? However, verse 9 goes on to say “But there’s more”!

Really? More than that kind of self-sacrificing love? Yes. More.  We have been given more than friendship with God, we have peace and salvation through Christ.

Now let me ask another question. What do you find worth living for?

” I honestly expect and hope that I will never do anything to be ashamed of. Whether I live or die, I always want to be as brave as I am now and bring honor to Christ.

21 If I live, it will be for Christ, and if I die, I will gain even more. 22 I don’t know what to choose. I could keep on living and doing something useful. 23 It is a hard choice to make. I want to die and be with Christ, because that would be much better. 24-25 But I know that all of you still need me. That’s why I am sure I will stay on to help you grow and be happy in your faith.” Philippians 1:20-24 CEV

Paul said he preferred to die and be with Christ but chose to continue living for the benefit of the Christians that he was ministering too. He had his life’s mission and he was determined to reach that goal.

God has blessed us with individual talents and abilities. He has strategically placed us in different parts of the country, in groups and organizations, among a diverse group of people. I can’t and won’t reach the same people  you do. The Apostle Paul often referred to Christians as “the body of Christ” because each part in the body has a specific purpose in providing strength and health to the whole. We should  do the best we can with the giftings God has given us.

Jesus chose to die for us. Shouldn’t we be willing to live for Him?

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