[RE]FOCUS Day 28
Week 4: Renewing
Day 7: Loving His Disciples
By Pastor Chad Wright
READ:
John 15:13 (ESV) – “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” Would you risk your life for someone else? How far would you go? Would you risk it if it guaranteed someone else survived but almost certainly meant you would die? I read a story about a fire at a group home where a staff person had to think about it. He said, “I was put in an unusual situation recently, I was in a fire and I was responsible with my 4 teammates for 10 mentally and physically handicapped, wheelchair-bound clients. It was a hairy situation but we all got out safely, no injuries. It was close however. At one point my co-workers were counting off how many clients we had outside, there was a question that there was possibly one client left in the building. I went back, this time on my hands and knees. The place was Hell on Earth. It is interesting how one’s thinking slows and sharpens in these situations while checking rooms 1 and 2… I had about 5 seconds to make a decision to go further in or not… do I go for it? “It’s now or never how many do we have?” The answer came before my 5 seconds were up. All 10 clients were accounted for. Would I have run through fire to grab one of our severely handicapped clients? Yeah, I probably would have.” What love! Have you ever thought about Jesus’ position on the night he was betrayed? He knew His 12 disciples would all desert him in His darkest moment. He knew Judas would take bribe money to betray him to an unscrupulous crowd who wanted to kill Jesus. Yet, he didn’t flinch. He didn’t walk away from it. Even after Peter denied him three times and the rooster crowed. Jesus remained resolute to the end. He did it to redeem those cowards. He did it to redeem you for all the times you turned against Jesus and cowardly chose some sin over Him. He did it to pay for the guilt you incurred before God by all your loveless thoughts, words and actions. He did it to free you from the slavery to sin, the power of the devil, and the penalty of death – physical and eternal. He truly is your greatest friend who laid down His life for you… only to take it up again. That is love. There is no greater love. He did it because he loves you. Live your life by loving Him and loving all the others around you whom Jesus has rescued.
PRAY:
Dear Jesus, how great is your love for me! You loved me even though I have often not loved You or my neighbor. Renew my heart with Your forgiveness. Help me to be faithful to You and loving toward all my neighbors, reflecting Your love in all I think, say, and do. Amen.
LIVE:
As people confirm their faith, we ask the question, “Are you willing to risk anything, even death, rather than turn away from Christ?” Are their things that command your fear more than death? How do they chip away or overwhelm your commitment? What role does God’s grace work in your commitment?