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LennyToo
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« Reply #3 on: October 29, 2004, 03:47:10 AM » |
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I believe that the pattern of self sacrifice ,demonstrated and recorded for our benefit, are ageless as God knew the hearts of men, and that by nature we are self-serving. The examples of sacrifice as exactly that: examples to live by. While few of us will ever be required to fast for forty days...I scare says hardly any of us will by choice...even if compelled by the Holy Spirit. Why, because we don't want to deny ourselves pleasure. None of us will ever be required to become sin, nor bear a cross up the hill to our deaths; most of us won't even carry a meal to the shut-in down the street. We feel "entitled" to the unlimited hours that we spend watching TV, going shopping, to sport events, etc; afterall, we work hard and we "earn" our pleasure time.
Very few, however not all, face no threat of death for sharing the gospel of Christ with others, but because we allow fear of rejection to overtake our hearts, we disobey the word, and the spirit and do not speak of Christ outside our save "Christian" circle.
Oh, how sad...what if Christ, when found by the roman soldiers there in the garden, had said, Jesus of Nazareth? No, he isn't here. He just left....or words to that effect.
See, we often overlook the fact that Christ, as us, had freewill, but CHOSE the will of God first.
Self-sacrifice: the art of placing everyone else's needs, wants, concerns before those of our own. Good Mom's and Dad's know about this principle. I'm working on the part of not feeling bitter that it is never my turn...it's a middle-age thing, but I know God will supply me the grace to get through this phase in life.
May the Lord bless us with an undying desire to SERVE!!!!!
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