(You were dying for me, You were dying for everyone. You were dying for me
You are truly God's son. You gave up your life, you gave us your spirit, You
were setting us free. You were dying for me.) Lyrics from the song You
Were Dying For Me, by the group called Believer.
Has anyone of you ever been shopping in the mall the day after
Thanksgiving.? Or have you been to a supermarket two hours before a major snow
storm has been announced to hit on the radio.? Or maybe you sat in a two hour traffic
jam on your way to work.? Not very pleasant situations are they? I mean,
humanity is not at its best in these times of great deals, empty refrigerators,
and daily routines. I believe we as a people really show our in-humanity in
these times of selfishness. I even heard on the radio last year that someone
was trampled opening the doors to one of the major retail stores the morning
after Thanksgiving day in 2008. Could there have been only one of those ten
dollar toasters left? Or maybe that curling iron that was going on sale for
less than five dollars was almost out of stock. Whatever the bargain that
was posted in the paper the week before to get everyone in a raging fit, just
needed to be secured as quickly as possible, no matter who was trampled over , and
in this case, even killed. When you think about it, isn't it troubling to
hear these horrible demonstrations of self and lack of care and concerns for
others? I wonder how that persons mother felt when she found out her son was
dead because hundreds of people stepped on him on their way to getting a great
deal. It is disturbing to think that we as a people would be so blinded to
the antics of the world that surrounds us. That is why we should call it Black
Friday, not because the retailers often go from the red to ‘black’ on the
balance sheets, but because if we really think about, on this day
people can really show the darkness that dwells in each persons heart and
their soul by the acts of greed and selfishness that they so easily and readily
perform. Now, I don't want to live in judgment of anybody here. Yes, There
are times when the fleshly side of myself has shown its ugly side too.! There
have been days that no matter what I was going to get that last loaf of French
bread in the case at the end of the bread section of the market. I mean,
one time I was eyeing those two old ladies on the left side of the aisle
picking their fresh strawberries, seeing if they were going to make a break for
that window case which held that crispy, fresh baked delicacy. No matter
what, if I were honest with you, if I had to do it they were going down if they
even tried to make a break for that mouth watering last loaf. I know this is
nothing to brag about. But to be honest with you for me it is oh so true. I
cannot count how many times I have rushed in front of someone just to get what
I wanted. Grocery lines, Friday night restaurant lines, toll booths, etc. I
mean the times and the methods; well they are endless if I were completely
truthful with you. God has shown me this past year to be less selfish in my
thoughts and ultimately more generous and ‘others focused’ in my actions.
Now, let me share with you my friends when you are conditioned and programmed
to think of yourself for almost 40 years of life it is essentially impossible
to make those changes on your own. I am what you call a work in progress
and there are days that I struggle greatly to be more kinder and loving to
others that surround my daily life. Usually, the good Lord gives me a
friendly reminder test so that I can get better at not thinking about
myself so often. For example, ever work a fourteen hour day and come home and
the kids want to play wrestling.? And the wife wants to tell you about the
fight she had with someone at work.? I mean all you want to do is eat and go to
sleep, but there are others who need your full attention. Sound
familiar Dad? There was a time, maybe five years ago when my wife and I were on
vacation in New York City.
We came upon a homeless woman who was shivering from the cold of a cruel
December wind. My wife, well she gave this poor woman her thin wind
breaker immediately. I gave her twenty bucks. My wife looked at me
and told me to give her my favorite orange pull over. I looked
her as if she was crazy and walked away. This was my favorite piece of
clothing even though it didn't fit very well anymore at all. You see it took me
two years to get this color and type and I was not giving up for anybody,
especially someone I didn't even know. But as I walked up a block ahead my
wife finally came up to me. By that time God had convicted me that I was wrong
and being selfish again. So I took the sweater off before my wife said a
word. And she ran it back to that shivering, homeless woman
immediately. My wife came back with tears in her eyes. She told me the
woman was so happy and her eyes welled up with tears of appreciation. Me,
well it was ok, but my favorite orange pull over was gone. Even though I
loved it despite the fact it didn't fit well. I was okay with it. My
friends, I have to be truthful with you. I am such a self centered person. I am
so grateful that God still puts up with me and my foolishness. I will share
with you something that has helped me recently with this disease called ‘self’.
It is the Cross of Calvary. The place called Golgotha,(the
place of the skull). Now when I think about my foolishness my mind and heart
reflects upon Jesus Christ dying on that cross for you and I. The Lord Jesus
gave up everything. He gave up his pride, his time, his self and even his life
that day when they crucified him. Jesus died for me. Did you hear what I
just said in a nice and respectful way. He died for me and gave up his
life for a wretch like me and saved me so that I could live forever in the Kingdom of God one day for eternity. In a world
when it is hard to get someone to lend you ten bucks or visit you in the
hospital. In an earth that tramples people to get into stores the day after
Thanksgiving. In a time that votes God out of the school systems. Jesus
died for me. Way before I was even born, He died for me. Right after Adam and
Eve took that first bite of the apple. Jesus was on his way to die for me. He
left the throne of God to humble Himself to be born in a manger, work as a
carpenter with his hands, be mocked and beaten beyond recognition, scorned and
shamed and covered with ALL the sin of humanity, while being hung on a tree in
front of the whole world to see and hear about without even an evil thought.(
as recorded in 1 Peter 2:23) Jesus was dying for me!! There are some of
you out there who will read this and think you are worth nothing. There are
some of you out there across the world who are thinking of killing yourself
because your life is falling apart. There are some of you out there who believe
that no one loves you. Let me share with you a big secret today. JESUS
DIED FOR YOU TOO! He loves you. Yes, even still today. Say it, scream it from
the mountain tops. Jesus, gave up his life on the cross at Calvary
so that you could be saved and born-again and have your name written in the
Lambs Book Of Life. Why? Because he loves you.! Because He created you, and
created you in His image. You are an Image Bearer of God! No one will ever do
more for you, my friends. Jesus paid the ultimate price by giving up his life
for you. If you accept this act of sacrifice and love of the cross as a payment
for your sins, you are what the Bible calls Saved. Saved from what you ask.
Saved from the judgment that the Bible says is coming. Through one man sin
entered the world, and through sin-death. There is a second death, eternal
separation from God. Obviously everyone dies. But consider this: Born once =
Die twice, Born twice= Die once. This is decision that you will have to make my
friends. The wrong decision can and will cost you eternity. The Bible is very
clear about this John 3:3 ." Jesus declares, I tell
you the truth, no one can see the kingdom
ofGod unless they are born again."
Pretty straight forward, not much room for doubt or argument, the Lord is very
clear here. I hope today that you who read this book will understand
that our motive for putting this work together is love. Also to display the
mercy and grace and justice and glory of God. In a world that most days seems
to have gone mad, if this little bit of writing can change even one person to
think of another soul first; Maybe by letting someone go ahead of them in
the school lunch line or at the supermarket or even the turnpike toll booth.
Maybe, just maybe even think about their own or another’s eternal salvation.
Well then, this is more than worth it. And if everybody did just one nice, willing,
sacrificial deed per day ,that would mean over 5 billion nice new things a day.
And then there might be a big difference in this great big world, a difference
that Jesus came to make possible, and one day WILL be a reality! Remember God
loves you my friends, He died for you and I. Oh, and by the way, that
orange pull over that I gave away that was so hard to find. Well two years
later at Christmas, I received a brand new one of exactly the same design. And
this one was one size larger and fit so much better than the one I so
reluctantly gave away that day in New
York. Oh ,God knows all, He just knows it all. Seek
Him today, while He can still be found. He waits with those same open arms
Christ displayed on the cross, and He wants to wrap them around you with a
great big hug! God Bless you all today and ever more. Al
No matter
what, if I were honest with you, if I had to do it they were going down if they
even tried to make a break for that mouth watering last loaf. I know this is
nothing to brag about. But to be honest with you for me it is oh so true. I
cannot count how many times I have rushed in front of someone just to get what
I wanted. Grocery lines, Friday night restaurant lines, toll booths, etc. I
mean the times and the methods; well they are endless if I were completely
truthful with you. God has shown me this past year to be less selfish in my
thoughts and ultimately more generous and ‘others focused’ in my actions.
Now, let me share with you my friends when you are conditioned and programmed
to think of yourself for almost 40 years of life it is essentially impossible
to make those changes on your own. I am what you call a work in progress
and there are days that I struggle greatly to be more kinder and loving to
others that surround my daily life. Usually, the good Lord gives me a
friendly reminder test so that I can get better at not thinking about
myself so often. For example, ever work a fourteen hour day and come home and
the kids want to play wrestling.? And the wife wants to tell you about the
fight she had with someone at work.? I mean all you want to do is eat and go to
sleep, but there are others who need your full attention. Sound
familiar Dad? There was a time, maybe five years ago when my wife and I were on
vacation in