For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ~John 3:16, NKJV
Christmas was coming close and my children wondered what presents they would receive, if any. We didn’t have any money and my son said, “Mom, why don’t you go back to Salvation Army and get us toys there? It’s free.”
“Nothing’s free, my son. Somebody pays for those toys. Nothing is ever free. Someone always pays. No matter how you get them, someone paid the price,” I snapped at him, remembering those people who rang the bells at Walmart, Kmart and Target and those who bought the toys.
A little taken back, “I know, but at least you don’t have to pay for them,” he inserted.
There’s a principle in what I’ve said to my son. The price has to be paid for by someone. Nothing ever comes without a price. We may never personally pay for it, but someone did and we were blessed enough to receive without an obligation to repay. That’s our free gift. The greatest free gift that was ever given to us was Salvation bought by Jesus Christ. It was a great price to pay, but He paid it for us, out of love.
I remembered one Sunday, I was prepared to teach my Bible lesson, but only two ladies showed up and our husbands didn’t want to stay. My children were antsy and didn’t want to stay long enough for me to teach my lesson. So, we cancelled the session. I was so upset and hurt. And, I remembered asking God in tears, “Father, I don’t understand. How could everyone chose earthly activities over spending time with You?” I felt the burden to love them was so heavy and the pain was too hard to bear. But, He gently reminded me that He understood. It was the pain He felt on the cross when all the sins of the world were put on Him. And yet, He chose to bear them out of love. I, too, if truly love God, should do the same out of choice.
Tomorrow, February 14, is Valentine’s Day, a day to celebrate love that was paid for by someone with a great price and given to us free. Let us celebrate with gratitude. Let us never take our loved ones for granted. Most importantly, we live because He lives, so let us celebrate the love He gave to us, FREE.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
The Glory of Christ in Us
“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one.”
~John 17:22
We went fishing this past weekend. As most of the times, we caught no fish. My daughter was not satisfied so my husband took her to the other end of the river to fish. Still there was no fish. We stayed for awhile and a man showed up with his fishing pole and started to fish. He caught one fish after another and my children were so surprised that he caught so many fish. Everyone gathered around his bucket of fish with excitement. He gave some of his bait to my husband and my son and they each caught one fish. Within 30 minutes of this man’s presence, he caught 5 fishes and met his limit. So, he offered his fishing pole to each one of us and no one would take it. He insisted that I fish. I was a little embarrassed so I declined, but he kept on handing me the fishing pole and said, “I will cast it because I know how to put it right into the fish’s mouth.” So, he cast it and gave me the fishing pole to hold on.
He stayed until it was nearly dark and his wife called. I still have not caught anything so I handed the fishing pole to my son. One by one we each took turns, but no fish. So, we handed him his fishing pole. He turned to me and said, “Would you like my fish. I just like to fish, I don’t eat them?”
“But, I thought you said trouts taste good?” I responded.
“I do like them, but my wife can’t stand them,” he smiled down at me.
“Oh, she’s one of those who don’t eat fish?” I inquired.
“She eats those from Captain D’s,” he said with his hands in his pockets and big grin on his face.
“Well, then, I would be glad to take them. I love fish and this would make my children very happy. Thank you,” I exclaimed.
“No problem,” he responded.
I instructed my son to transfer the fish from his bucket to our little foam cooler. Then, he offered one to the other man fishing beside us. The man gladly took the fish and put it in his cooler. As, my son handed him his empty bucket, he offered some baits to the other man and some to me? We took the bait from his hands and thanked him. I made a remark to the fact that he fished but didn’t keep his fish, he said, “Oh, I’m having a great time.”
As I reflected back, he enjoyed teaching my children how to cast their fishing lines and hold it until the fish bite. It made me wondered if he had any grand children of his own. Nevertheless, he made me calm because of the way he conducted himself, he wasn’t talking too much or shushing my children, but rather calmly taught them how to fish. And, before he left, he gave them enough baits to fish for the remaining of their time.
This reminded me of the time when Jesus was getting ready to go to the cross and prayed to His Heavenly Father. He reminded the Father that He has given us His glory that was given to Him so that He and us can be one as He is one with the Father.
The word glory came from the Greek word kabod (pronounced, kay-bold). And it means glory or honor which associates with dignity, wealth, or high position. When Jesus left, He didn’t leave us without any part of Him, but He clearly stated that He gave us His glory so that we can be one with Him. Part of honoring His glory is to use the it to display His splendor, His compassion, and His love for the world. He taught us how to do His work by showing us, then he cast the first throw and handed us the pole to just hold on and wait, then He gave us the bait (equipped us) to fish some more, and instructed us to continue having fun. We weren’t instructed with hush words, but gentle and kind. Then, he showed us where to get more of the baits-read His Word.
Meditating on this message that He instructed me to share, I feel His peace. He is consistent in His care of us. We have His glory within us and our job is to display it for the world to see. With the glory of Christ in us, we have nothing to fear. With the glory of Christ in us, we can do things we thought we couldn’t do. With the glory of Christ in us, nothing is impossible, not even an unwilling heart.
Father, I know You love me. I understand the glory of Christ is placed within me. Manifest Your glory in me so that I may display Your splendor for the world to see. I pray You will remind me everyday that Your glory is in me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
~John 17:22
We went fishing this past weekend. As most of the times, we caught no fish. My daughter was not satisfied so my husband took her to the other end of the river to fish. Still there was no fish. We stayed for awhile and a man showed up with his fishing pole and started to fish. He caught one fish after another and my children were so surprised that he caught so many fish. Everyone gathered around his bucket of fish with excitement. He gave some of his bait to my husband and my son and they each caught one fish. Within 30 minutes of this man’s presence, he caught 5 fishes and met his limit. So, he offered his fishing pole to each one of us and no one would take it. He insisted that I fish. I was a little embarrassed so I declined, but he kept on handing me the fishing pole and said, “I will cast it because I know how to put it right into the fish’s mouth.” So, he cast it and gave me the fishing pole to hold on.
He stayed until it was nearly dark and his wife called. I still have not caught anything so I handed the fishing pole to my son. One by one we each took turns, but no fish. So, we handed him his fishing pole. He turned to me and said, “Would you like my fish. I just like to fish, I don’t eat them?”
“But, I thought you said trouts taste good?” I responded.
“I do like them, but my wife can’t stand them,” he smiled down at me.
“Oh, she’s one of those who don’t eat fish?” I inquired.
“She eats those from Captain D’s,” he said with his hands in his pockets and big grin on his face.
“Well, then, I would be glad to take them. I love fish and this would make my children very happy. Thank you,” I exclaimed.
“No problem,” he responded.
I instructed my son to transfer the fish from his bucket to our little foam cooler. Then, he offered one to the other man fishing beside us. The man gladly took the fish and put it in his cooler. As, my son handed him his empty bucket, he offered some baits to the other man and some to me? We took the bait from his hands and thanked him. I made a remark to the fact that he fished but didn’t keep his fish, he said, “Oh, I’m having a great time.”
As I reflected back, he enjoyed teaching my children how to cast their fishing lines and hold it until the fish bite. It made me wondered if he had any grand children of his own. Nevertheless, he made me calm because of the way he conducted himself, he wasn’t talking too much or shushing my children, but rather calmly taught them how to fish. And, before he left, he gave them enough baits to fish for the remaining of their time.
This reminded me of the time when Jesus was getting ready to go to the cross and prayed to His Heavenly Father. He reminded the Father that He has given us His glory that was given to Him so that He and us can be one as He is one with the Father.
The word glory came from the Greek word kabod (pronounced, kay-bold). And it means glory or honor which associates with dignity, wealth, or high position. When Jesus left, He didn’t leave us without any part of Him, but He clearly stated that He gave us His glory so that we can be one with Him. Part of honoring His glory is to use the it to display His splendor, His compassion, and His love for the world. He taught us how to do His work by showing us, then he cast the first throw and handed us the pole to just hold on and wait, then He gave us the bait (equipped us) to fish some more, and instructed us to continue having fun. We weren’t instructed with hush words, but gentle and kind. Then, he showed us where to get more of the baits-read His Word.
Meditating on this message that He instructed me to share, I feel His peace. He is consistent in His care of us. We have His glory within us and our job is to display it for the world to see. With the glory of Christ in us, we have nothing to fear. With the glory of Christ in us, we can do things we thought we couldn’t do. With the glory of Christ in us, nothing is impossible, not even an unwilling heart.
Father, I know You love me. I understand the glory of Christ is placed within me. Manifest Your glory in me so that I may display Your splendor for the world to see. I pray You will remind me everyday that Your glory is in me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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