Messengers of LoveWritten by Joyce C. Lock
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Sometimes, it seems God asks nearly impossible; His standards being so high that average week kneed, belly aching, fearful person could never obtain ... defeating ourselves even before we've begun. Perhaps we don't listen carefully to what He said. Jesus didn't say we had to "give up" our lives, like victims with a gun pointing to our head. It's rare that anyone actually faces a life or death situation to protect a friend (aside from war). What Jesus actually did mean was to lay our life down willfully, dying to self to meet a greater need - which only counts when done in love. When a phone call comes at 2:00 a.m. where distraught seeking counseling, put aside your need of rest. When you have in mind a shopping spree except you see another without shoes, consider their need first. When you've planned a getaway weekend but your friend has emergency surgery, a house full of children, and no one to care for them - put off your plans.
| | Welcome the LessonsWritten by Joyce C. Lock
When we read of great men of old, mighty and strong, courageous, faithful, those who slew thousands and ten thousands ... perhaps we also think of phrases like, "faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings with a single bound." In admiring their feats, we tend to think of these men as super human, almost supernatural, and nearly impossible to follow - while missing their weakness and how God brought them to places of such courage and faith. If you've ever found yourself in a series of lessons where you hang on to God because there's nothing else to hang on to, and He gives you sweet promises like this, "When thou passest through waters, I will be with thee: and through rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall flame kindle upon thee," Is. 43:2 ... then there's nothing left to do but hang on, drown, or get burned. That's how God's chosen become courageous.
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