For thought and meditation Aug 25

[Markopolo]

August 25
Sacrifice and Friendship
By Oswald Chambers

I have called you friends… —John 15:15

We will never know the joy of self-sacrifice until we surrender in every detail of our lives. Yet self-surrender is the most difficult thing for us to do. We make it conditional by saying, “I’ll surrender if…!” Or we approach it by saying, “I suppose I have to devote my life to God.” We will never find the joy of self-sacrifice in either of these ways.

But as soon as we do totally surrender, abandoning ourselves to Jesus, the Holy Spirit gives us a taste of His joy. The ultimate goal of self-sacrifice is to lay down our lives for our Friend (see John 15:13-14). When the Holy Spirit comes into our lives, our greatest desire is to lay down our lives for Jesus. Yet the thought of self-sacrifice never even crosses our minds, because sacrifice is the Holy Spirit’s ultimate expression of love.

Our Lord is our example of a life of self-sacrifice, and He perfectly exemplified Psalm 40:8, “I delight to do Your will, O my God….” He endured tremendous personal sacrifice, yet with overflowing joy. Have I ever yielded myself in absolute submission to Jesus Christ? If He is not the One to whom I am looking for direction and guidance, then there is no benefit in my sacrifice. But when my sacrifice is made with my eyes focused on Him, slowly but surely His molding influence becomes evident in my life (see Hebrews 12:1-2).

Beware of letting your natural desires hinder your walk in love before God. One of the cruelest ways to kill natural love is through the rejection that results from having built the love on natural desires. But the one true desire of a saint is the Lord Jesus. Love for God is not something sentimental or emotional— for a saint to love as God loves is the most practical thing imaginable.

“I have called you friends….” Our friendship with Jesus is based on the new life He created in us, which has no resemblance or attraction to our old life but only to the life of God. It is a life that is completely humble, pure, and devoted to God.

Have a blessed day!

[square butte]

Amen & a great devotional - which I am always in need of-God Bless

[dverna]

This is a message that is not realistic.

Peter denies Jesus not once but three times. Yet we are expected to...quoted from above...
"The ultimate goal of self-sacrifice is to lay down our lives for our Friend (see John 15:13-14)"

I suppose some believers can meet the standard this message is suggesting, but Peter shows us how most people will act when push comes to shove. A few will lay down their lives but many will deny their "faith". Self-preservation is a strong circuit in how we are wired.

An exceptional person may overcome "human nature", but Peter showed how many will act.

[Ickisrulz]

This is a message that is not realistic.

Peter denies Jesus not once but three times. Yet we are expected to...quoted from above...
"The ultimate goal of self-sacrifice is to lay down our lives for our Friend (see John 15:13-14)"

I suppose some believers can meet the standard this message is suggesting, but Peter shows us how most people will act when push comes to shove. A few will lay down their lives but many will deny their "faith". Self-preservation is a strong circuit in how we are wired.

An exceptional person may overcome "human nature", but Peter showed how many will act.

Peter's denials were pre-Pentecost (Chambers hints at this) and when he was relatively young and inexperienced. If Church history can be believed, Peter eventually died a martyr. Martyr means witness. Peter's death benefited those who witnessed it in the fact that he was willing to die for his message giving that message more credibility. It showed the witnesses that Peter was not a conman.

Can all Christians do such a thing? No way. The Bible spells out high ideals, "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
Some Christians are more mature than others. Some will never mature.

[USMC87]

Amen!