George Whitefield- "O let the love of Jesus be in your thoughts continually! It was His dying that brought you life; it was His crucifixion that paid the satisfaction for your sins; His death, burial and resurrection that completed the work; and He is now in heaven, interceding for you at the right hand of His Father.
And can you do too much for the Lord Jesus Christ, who has done so much for you?
His love to you is unfathomable. O the height, the depth, the length and breadth of this love that brought the king of glory from His throne, to die for such rebels as we are, when we had acted so unkindly against Him and deserved nothing but eternal damnation.
He came down and took our nature upon Him; He was made of flesh and dwelt among us; He was put to death on our account; He paid our ransom: surely this should make us rejoice in Him."
Jesus is patient, shaping and forming our days. Creating new out of old, bringing forth the form and work He purposed us for. He gives repeated do-overs. He lovingly molds our hearts to mirror His. It is beautiful, hard work that He's doing.
THERE'S PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE
There's purpose for your life here,
As God has work for you.
Your friends, who have become quite dear,
All need His message too!
You'll find, that when to God you plead,
Your faith becomes a must.
As Jesus knows your every need,
In Him please place your trust.
Spend time alone with Him each day
To invite His Presence.
As God's New Life comes in to stay,
Friends will see a difference.
He knows the effect you will be
On others that you know.
Do pray for them, that they may see
God's love inside you grow.
An "eye of understanding" is
What makes our spirits strong.
May you soon find this Life of His
Will bring you a new song.
As God's love has reached out to you,
This Life will become real.
Go find someone to share with too,
As you'll be used to heal.
Today's prayer:
Father, we look to the Lord Jesus to give us guidance that honor's You. May Your Holy Spirit remake us into His image, [which is Your image!] Help us allow the purpose for our lives to be made clear to us, and that we'll be obedient to do Your will to live lives that will draw others to You. We pray for this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Today's verse: Matt. 10:39 "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth it for my sake shall find it."
Church notes:
WARNINGS ARE FOR OUR GOOD
When we stop obeying God, we'll drift away.
We need to be content with Jesus.
Self-talk is powerful, as it continues our sin traits.
We're just like the Israelites: we can be stubborn and disobedient.
We're to endure the race set before us! And to HOLD ON!
Encouraging words:
"The secret of real Christian progress and the direction in which the effort of Christian progress can most profitably and effectually be made, is simply in keeping close to our Lord and Master. ". . . I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). Alexander Maclaren (1826-1910).