The Father loves Me
because I sacrifice My life
so I may take it back again.
No one can take My life from me.
I lay it down when I want to
and also to take it up again.
This is what My Father has commanded.
John 10:17-18
Jesus was commanded by His Father
while He was here on earth.
And He lived in complete harmony
with His Father, obeying Him in everything.
The Father's eternal love for His Son
was contingent only on their relationship,
but Jesus said that His Father loved Him
because He sacrificed His life.
Sacrifice was the expression of His love
back to His Father.
back to His Father.
I wonder how many times during the day
that I "forget" to lay my life down?
I am pretty good at taking it back again.
If I want to express my love for Him--
rather than my love for myself--
rather than my love for myself--
I have to get better at laying it down.
It will not get used up.
I get empty to get full.
It is the paradox of a life
lived for eternal purpose.
During this season,
giving must take on deeper meaning.
Giving gifts is easy, certainly fun.
Giving my life--
which includes my affections,
sensitivities, opinions, and desires--
is the highest form of loving Him.
When I take my life back up again,
I want it to be because the life is His.
Resurrected and full,
representing Him to a world that
desperately needs to see accurately.
Jesus, it is why You came.
I want it to be the reason
why I breathe.
During this season,
giving must take on deeper meaning.
Giving gifts is easy, certainly fun.
Giving my life--
which includes my affections,
sensitivities, opinions, and desires--
is the highest form of loving Him.
When I take my life back up again,
I want it to be because the life is His.
Resurrected and full,
representing Him to a world that
desperately needs to see accurately.
Jesus, it is why You came.
I want it to be the reason
why I breathe.
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