ARE WE WILLING

“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”

1 John 3:16 KJV

We may never be put in a situation where we have to lay down our life but are we willing to do so if we need to do it?  That is what Jesus did for us on the cross.  He was willing to lay down His life for us.  What a Saviour!  What a Friend!

We can lay down our life for others by putting their wishes ahead of ours.  When we go out to eat with someone, do we always insist on going to our favorite restaurant or do we ask them where they would like to go?  May God help us to put others first.

We also need to be encouragers.  “So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved” (Isaiah 41:7).

What about being an encourager to our pastor?  I think we sometimes forget that pastors get weary and discouraged just like we do.  They give up time with their families to minister to us.  We also need to encourage our pastor’s family.

Joanne Lowe

July 21, 2018