(10.08.20—-Sacrifice!--Matthew 19:21)
My friend, may I ask you a question? Will God ever require from us everything, even our lives? If it is possible, should each of us be willing to fulfill that sacrifice should it be demanded of us?
My friend, life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day. I’m M. Clifford Brunner?
Does God place limits on how far He wants us to go when it comes to committing to His will? If His will is our sacrifice, can there be any limits? Is our God reasonable when it comes to our ability to forbear or to bear? God, of course, transcends our reason because we cannot even begin to understand His wisdom. Sometimes we just need to commit and leave the rest up to Him, trusting that whatever happens, we will endure. It’s like when my father would put a list of chores in front of me on a Saturday morning years ago. At first glance it looked pretty bleak for a young man anxious to get in his needed “free” time on a weekend. It may have even looked like I might not “survive” the chores that day. Yet, I had to trust that my father would not give me more than I could bear. There just was no other way. Ultimately, I had to trust in my father’s judgment and simply do the work. Now, as I look back at those days, I can see that what my father was really looking for was my willingness to do the work no matter what. The fact that the work was accomplished was secondary.
Here’s a story: Fifty-six men signed the Declaration of Independence. Their conviction resulted in untold sufferings for themselves and their families. Of the 56 men, five were captured by the British and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the Revolutionary Army. Another had two sons captured. Nine of the fifty-six fought and died from wounds or hardships of the war. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships sunk by the British navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts and died in poverty. At the battle of Yorktown, the British General Cornwallis had taken over Thomas Nelson’s home for his headquarters. Nelson quietly ordered General George Washington to open fire on the Nelson home. The home was destroyed and Nelson died bankrupt. John Hart was driven from his wife’s bedside as she was dying. Their thirteen children fled for their lives. His fields and mill were destroyed. For over a year, he lived in forest and caves, returning home only to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later, he died from exhaustion. (Kenneth L. Dodge, Resource, Sept./ Oct., 1992, p. 5.)
Will God ever require from us everything, even our lives? Yes, that is possible and each of us should be willing to fulfill that sacrifice should it be demanded of us. When we place no one or nothing before our willingness to obey God, this includes even our own lives. That willingness to trust that He will demand only that which we are able to give, draws us as close to the father’s arms and his embrace as we ever will be. In fact, it is the thing that makes his hugs possible.
We pray. Heavenly Father. We know that someday You will require from us everything, even our lives. And that might be much sooner than we expected. Help us in Your Spirit Lord to understand that this is possible and each of us should be willing to fulfill that sacrifice should it be demanded of us. Forgive us Lord when we are tempted to place someone or something before our willingness to obey You, this includes even our own lives. Grant us the willingness to trust that You will demand only that which we are able to give, and draw us as close to Your arms and Your embrace as we ever will and can be. Remind us of this every time we hug someone we love. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!
Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.
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<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.