Cross

Taking Advantage

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Taking advantage of an opportunity sometimes goes down the wrong staircase. What begins as a bright possibility sometimes steps down to focusing on our own goals and forgetting people around us. From there sadly it is not such a giant leap to gently manipulating friends to get what we want. But Jesus, who had the closest friendship with the very highest friend, never once pulled strings for His own advantage. Instead He humbled Himself and yielded His life for us.

We will never find freedom to be who He has called us to be till we cease looking to get ahead and simply serve those he sends us to. Remembering all that He gave up to come to our rescue how can we do less for Him?

Is He Calling Your Name?

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The waiting room is noisy and crowded. People are trying different ways to not look stressed. Some are reading, some texting a friend while others simply sit quietly. But if we were honest all of us are straining to hear only one thing and that is for our own name to be called.

But we will never be called unless the doctor is expecting us. We will never be expected unless we have scheduled an appointment. And they will never schedule that appointment until the terms of payment are accepted.

Have I made that appointment with God? Does He have my name written down in his book? My great assurance is that He has found me – His lost sheep and brought me and all the other wanderers home to Himself. When the bill for our rescue came due He stamped across the invoice – paid in full! Because the Good Shepherd has laid down His life for His sheep any moment now He will be calling your name!

Things that are Seen

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If when Paul tells us that he chooses to live by focusing on things he cannot see it seems mysterious remember the prayer which Jesus taught us.

Our Father – the invisible God

Who is in heaven – an unseen place

May Your name be Holy- an unknowable purity

Your kingdom come – a government we don’t see yet

Your will be done – while all the world rejects its invisible laws

Give us this day our daily bread- His unforseen miraculous provision

Forgive us our trespasses- an unexpected mercy

Lead us not – a loving guidance

Deliver us from evil- an astonishing rescue

For Yours is the kingdom power and glory – just 3 of the limitless riches of our Father

Forever Amen- an unimaginable eternity!

Almost everything He taught us to pray for is invisible. The only two things we can see are our daily bread and our sin. How wonderful a Gift He has given when He became the living bread so He could take away our sins!