Christian Reflection and Prayer

SACRIFICIAL LOVE

God is always ready to help
us and expects us to help
others

Scripture:

"Don't forget to do good
and to share what you
have with those in need,
for such sacrifices are
very pleasing to God."
Hebrews 13:16 NLT

In His steps

"Have you seen kids
wearing bracelets with
the initials WWJD—
"What Would Jesus Do?"
The story behind those
bracelets begins a century
ago, when a minister
named Charles Sheldon
wrote a novel titled In His
Steps. One Sunday morning
at First Church, Pastor
Henry Maxwell is preaching
a sermon about how to follow
Christ's example of sacrificial
love.

The service is suddenly i
nterrupted when a tramp
stands up. He's been out
of work for a year, he says,
yet not one person in town
has helped him find another
job. Twisting his shabby hat
in his hands, the tramps says,
"I was wondering if what you
call following Jesus is the
same thing as what he taught.…
I get puzzled when I see so
many Christians living in luxury
and remember how my wife
died in a tenement.…what
would Jesus do?" At that point,
to the congregation's horror,
the tramp collapses and dies.

The following Sunday, the
minister makes a stunning
proposal: He's looking for
volunteers willing to pledge
themselves for an entire year
to do nothing without first
asking, "What would Jesus
do?" Some fifty people make
the pledge, and a remarkable
series of events begins.

Some of these people pay a
high price for their obedience.
But they also learn the joy of
following faithfully in his footsteps.

A few years ago, a Holland,
Michigan, youth leader was
so inspired by this classic
story that she had bracelets
made bearing the letters WWJD
and gave them to the kids in her
church. The idea caught fire, and
today millions wear them.

adapted from How Now Shall We
Live? Devotional by Charles Colson
(Tyndale) pp 585-86

Scripture:

I don't mean to say that I have
already achieved these things
or that I have already reached
perfection. But I press on to
possess that perfection for
which Christ Jesus first
possessed me. No, dear
brothers and sisters, I have
not achieved it, but I focus
on this one thing: Forgetting
the past and looking forward to
what lies ahead, I press on to
reach the end of the race and
receive the heavenly prize for
which God, through Christ
Jesus, is calling us.
(Philippians 3:12-14)  NLT    


Reflection:

The Apostle Paul has one goal in life,
his goal is to know Christ, to be like
Christ and to be all Christ has in mind
for Him.  This goal, that consumes Paul,
takes all of his energy, it even takes the
power of the Holy Spirit. 
This is a helpful example for us.
We should not let anything take our eyes
off our goal, that of knowing Christ.  With
absolute single mindedness just like an
athlete in training, we must lay aside
everything harmful and throw out
anything that may distract us from
being effective and loving followers
of Jesus Christ.  WHAT'S HOLDING
YOU BACK?

Jesus' Job Application
Ron Walters

Can you imagine if the Savior of the world
were asked to fill out a job application?
Think of it! How would the incarnate God
answer the simple questions required for
a job interview? After all, His resume is
not run-of-the-mill.

Put yourself in that employment office.
Take a look over His shoulder and follow
along as He completes His application.
It might look something like this:

NAME: Jesus Christ

APPLICANT BACKGROUND:
I am pre-existent, appearing numerous
times before my birth.I also participated
in the creation.

FAMILY BACKGROUND:
Jewish on my mother's side and Divine
on my Father's side. Mother was a virgin
at the time of
my birth.

LIST YOUR REFERENCES:
Myriads of myriads and thousands of
thousands of angels, and a few fishermen.

CLOSEST RELATIVE:
The eternal God, who has said,
"This is My beloved Son, in whom I am
well pleased."

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR
GREATEST STRENGTHS?
I can forgive sin and raise the
dead. From time to time I walk on water.

WHAT IS YOUR EDUCATIONAL
BACKGROUND?
I taught doctors and elders when I was
in Junior High School.

LIST YOUR DUTIES IN PREVIOUS JOBS:
I've catered full dinners to large crowds with
low overhead. Once, during a wine shortage
at a wedding, Improvised with a water substitute.
Also, at a local funeral for a friend, I provided
the life for the party.

HOW DO YOU GET ALONG WITH OTHERS?
It varies. Sometimes they shout "Messiah"
to me, and the next day they yell, "Crucify Him."

ARE YOU ABLE TO WORK WEEKENDS?
All but one. I have a prior commitment at
Mt. Calvary, but I'll return on Sunday.

SALARY REQUIREMENTS:
None. Although I haven't a home or even
a pillow to lay my head, I do own the universe.