Exquisite Delight
Devotion in Motion
Midweek Encouragement
John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
An entire nation was revived when the great reformer John Knox prayed, ‘Lord give me Scotland, or I die.’
But what a lot of people don’t know is what Knox wrote about the answer that the Lord put on his heart regarding that prayer. The Lord responded in his heart saying, ‘First die, then I’ll give you Scotland.’
We pray to the Lord and say ‘Make this relationship work, or I’m going to die, Give me that job or I’ll die, Let me pass the test or I’ll die
But the Lord says ‘Die first,
Matthew 16:24-25
“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
We are to lay down our lives first, For our Lord then for our wives, for our husbands, your neighbor, your friend. You see,That’s not only the proof of your love, but the pathway to love because love is not some feeling you hope returns, not some kind of mystical emotion you can’t get a hold of. Or bring up when you want. It’s the decision, a decision to die to your dreams, your desires, your needs, for someone else
Mathew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”
Remember that there was one who was greater than all, who gave his life for those he called friends and that was when we were still sinners, when we were the enemies of God.
Paul the apostle wrote in Romans 5:8-10 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life”.
That’s real love
And if he did that for us individually we can and should manifest that love outwardly when we surrender our lives to Jesus exclusively.
It is said that Cyrus, the founder of the Persian Empire, once had captured a prince and his family. When they came before him, the monarch asked the prisoner, “What will you give me if I release you?” “The half of my wealth,” was his reply. “And if I release your children?” “Everything I possess.” “And if I release your wife?” “Your Majesty, I will give myself.” Cyrus was so moved by his devotion that he freed them all. As they returned home, the prince said to his wife, “Wasn’t Cyrus a handsome man!” With a look of deep love for her husband, she said to him, “I didn’t notice. I could only keep my eyes on you- -the one who was willing to give himself for me.”
The Psalmist wrote ” Psalm 37:4: “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart”
The word delight means (To be happy about, to take exquisite delight in) Isn’t that real love after all. Then like the prince’s wife ” I didn’t notice I could only keep my eyes on the one who was willing to give himself for me”
Die 1st, then he will give you the desires of your heart. When that happens you will find a love flowing from you that could only come from Love incarnate himself–Jesus Christ!
Amen
Victor Tafoya
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