• HOME
    • Devotions and Lessons
  • BIble Studies
  • Music
  • Refuge and Retreat Center
  • About
  • Staff
  • Contact
  • HOME
    • Devotions and Lessons
  • BIble Studies
  • Music
  • Refuge and Retreat Center
  • About
  • Staff
  • Contact
Lessons From The father
  • HOME
    • Devotions and Lessons
  • BIble Studies
  • Music
  • Refuge and Retreat Center
  • About
  • Staff
  • Contact

 Devotions and Lessons
Building Relationships Through God's Love

We welcome July with a repentant heart. There are things happening in this world that are changing the way we see normal. Places are opening with restrictions. Some people are realizing what foolishness is happening.  God is winning battles. Even though it looks like we have certain major losses, God is winning. We are in an amazing time and the world will never be the same again.  
Picture
​Scripture of the Week: Job 38:4-18   
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
    Tell me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
    Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 On what were its bases sunk,
    or who laid its cornerstone,
7 when the morning stars sang together
    and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

8 “Or who shut in the sea with doors
    when it burst out from the womb,
9 when I made clouds its garment
    and thick darkness its swaddling band,
10 and prescribed limits for it
    and set bars and doors,
11 and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther,
    and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?

12 “Have you commanded the morning since your days began,
    and caused the dawn to know its place,
13 that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth,
    and the wicked be shaken out of it?
14 It is changed like clay under the seal,
    and its features stand out like a garment.
15 From the wicked their light is withheld,
    and their uplifted arm is broken.

16 “Have you entered into the springs of the sea,
    or walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you,
    or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?
18 Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth?
    Declare, if you know all this.














​

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

    Link to Retreat Center
    Blog Disclaimer:
    The messages on the blogs written on this page are within biblical adherence. Though the Scriptures listed in the blogs are directly from the Bible and other related religious writings the explanations and interpretations are in line with Biblical thinking as it relates to today’s world. The use of historical facts are to assist in the validity of the writings. The main writer of this blog site is an Ordained minister in one denomination though the views are related to all denominations so if something is said that does not fall in line with your denominational background, pray for personal discernment and understanding.

Back to Blog

Would You Die For a Stranger?

8/24/2019

 
What would you do if your house was on fire, your spouse and child are trapped inside and you only have enough time to go in and save one. What do you do? This is the toughest decision that some have had to make. If you were the spouse in the house what would you decide? Nine out of ten would save the child because the love of the spouse in the fire would tell the other to let him/her go.

John 15:13 states, “Greater Love hath no man than he who would give his life for his friends”. There are many ways to look at this passage. The most obvious one is the cryptic way He was letting the Disciples know that He was about to be crucified. But this has many other meanings that we should understand.

This single verse is my life verse which I will explain why shortly. There is more to this passage than just giving of one’s self. Let’s look at the passage this comes from:

If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another. John 15:10-17

The Lesson   

The Disciples, according to Scripture and tradition were a little confused at first. They were serving Jesus by ensuring all needs were met. To Jesus, these men were the future who would lead others to the faith and follow God’s Word, not man’s perversions of it. These men would be the ones who would live a Christ like life the best they could and be the example to others.
Jesus did not want to be served but helped the Disciples learned what it meant to serve others without the need or desire for recognition or rewards. To this manner and the fact that their relationship grew, Jesus called them friend and brother. God’s Love is at the center of all this as the greatest act of love is sacrifice.

What do we get from this? God’s Love means to be able to sacrifice of yourself in any circumstance that requires it without question or desire for award. It is because of His sacrifice that we go into the darkness of the world and share what we have gained through the Grace, Love, and Mercy of God. We were servants of the world and sin as they had the greatest hold on us, but through Christ we are redeemed.    

What is Sacrifice?

Sacrifice is defined by Merriam/Webster as: the destruction or surrender of something for the sake of something else; also, the act of offering to a deity something precious. The ultimate sacrifice was God’s giving of His Son as a sacrifice for all mankind. It is the final sacrifice needed for the redemption from sin and death. We all die physically but this death is the death of the soul. Because of the sacrifice we are saved from eternal damnation.

Sacrifice in our present life does not only mean we have to physically die. When we give up something precious to us we are sacrificing the need and desire for that item because someone needs it more. Giving up things that we have in abundance is just sharing of the wealth we are provided. It is not that we have need or will miss it, it is because we have plenty. That is not sacrifice, but sharing.

Sacrifice is giving of the last dollar when we do not get paid for another week. We will do without until we can move forward. Sacrifice is giving up your favorite material thing. Sacrifice is giving of your time for someone else’s needs when you are required to be elsewhere.

Why is This My Life Verse

I am a humble servant of my Lord and Savior Jesus. My life is not my own but belongs to God. When I was in the military, my life was signed over to the defense and protection of the country. This meant that my death certificate was already made just missing the date, time and means of death. Jesus’ death certificate was already complete even before He was born. I became a willing sacrifice in the defense of the land I hold dear. I became a willing sacrifice for the safety and security of my family and friends. I became a willing sacrifice to defend my brothers and sisters in arms even at the cost of my own life.

This has become my way of life. Not desiring or needing anything but working towards the safety, security, and comfort of my family, friends, and strangers. I would give my life for any of you reading this if that is what it took for you to continue living.
  
What Does This Mean

Are you willing to sacrifice. Our lives are to be a living sacrifice to God. Giving up worldly things to serve only the will of God. Now in this day and age it is difficult to sacrifice everything because of the requirements of life and the ruling body appointed over us. It is possible to live as God desires us to through our acts of kindness, suffering for others, giving of ourselves so that others may succeed. Will you sacrifice everything for your human brother or sister? I know I would.

Blessings to You,

In GOD’S Love, Grace, and Mercy,

Rob, Servant of Father God
0 Comments
read more



Leave a Reply.

Location

Contact Us

    Subscribe Today!

Submit