2010-09-21 - What Would You Do for Him?

I recently read an article about coach to whom his players were so loyal, that they would play with broken bones. Of course, I don’t believe that any sporting event is worth possible permanent physical damage to a limb. After all, it really is “just a game,” and there will be countless more games year after year. In the eternal scheme of things, as the saying goes, “it don’t mean nothing.”

But as I read this article, I wondered how many of us Christians would show such loyalty to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Hopefully we won’t ever be asked to give up life or limb for our faith (though more Christians are persecuted now, than at any time in previous history). But think of what He did for us.

He bore all our sins, every sin we have ever committed or ever will – from “white lies” to murder, and actually experienced death for us. He didn’t have to; as Christ Himself said, he gave His life. It was not taken:

John 10:17-18 (NASB) (Christ said) "For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. ¹⁸ No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again This commandment I received from My Father."

He suffered torture for us. In my work in with crime victims through the years, I have seen too many cases where people were tortured – with hot coals, with knives, with salt literally poured in a wheelchair-bound man’s wounds – often for money. (Please pray for these dear people.) The emotional and physical pain were excruciating, sometimes ending in death.

Now imagine that Christ did that – suffered a torturous death - willingly. In fact, He came to do that for us, so we wouldn’t have to be separated eternally from God.

What do we do for Him? Are we willing to sacrifice some of our money for His causes? Our time to do His work? Our Sunday mornings to worship and serve with His children? Our own wills, to do His bidding instead?

What are you doing for Him? What will you do for Him?

Jan

cfdevcfpray@yahoo.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org