Tithemi

NOTHING CAN BE GREATER THAN OR TAKE THE PLACE OF GOD WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, WE MUST NOT JUDGE OTHERS LESS THAN OURSELVES. AGAIN, THIS IS A CALL TO FORSAKE SELFISHNESS FOR SELF-LESS-NESS OF AGAPE LOVE.

WE HAVE ALL HEARD THE BELOVED STATEMENT MADE BY MISSIONARY JIM ELLIOT WHO SAID, “"HE IS NO FOOL WHO GIVES WHAT HE CANNOT KEEP TO GAIN THAT WHICH HE CANNOT LOSE."

JIM ELLIOT KEPT A JOURNAL AND HIS ENTRY FOR OCTOBER 28, 1949; HE EXPRESSED HIS BELIEF THAT WORK DEDICATED TO JESUS WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN HIS OWN LIFE. HE MADE REFERENCE TO LUKE 9:24 "FOR WHOEVER WANTS TO SAVE THEIR LIFE WILL LOSE IT, BUT WHOEVER LOSES THEIR LIFE FOR ME WILL SAVE IT."

JIM ELLIOT DID, INDEED, LAY DOWN HIS LIFE. HE AND FOUR OTHER MISSIONARIES WERE KILLED ON JANUARY 8, 1956, BY NATIVE WARRIORS IN A REMOTE AREA OF ECUADOR.

MANY STORIES, JUST LIKE JIM ELLIOT’S, HAVE BEEN SOUNDED THROUGHOUT THE AGES. THIS IS WHY TERTULLIAN, IN HIS WRITING “APOLOGETICUS” IN THE 15TH CENTURY, PENNED THOSE IMFAMOUS WORDS, “THE BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS IS THE SEED OF THE CHURCH."

YES, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY WHO HAVE PHYSICALLY GIVEN UP THEIR EARTHLY LIFE AND HAVE DIED FOR JESUS. ALTHOUGH, MANY OF US TODAY, MAY NOT LEAVE THIS WORLD IN THAT WAY, WE ARE STILL CALLED TO DIE TO OURSELVES AND LAY OUR LIVES DOWN FOR THE SAKE OF JESUS AND OTHERS.

WHEN WE SAY, “LAY DOWN ONES LIFE” WE AREN’T REFERRING TO PHYSICAL DEATH OR DYING, BUT WORKING TO GET OURSELVES GROUNDED IN AND COMFORTABLE WITH THE WORD “SACRIFICE.”

WE MUST GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE CAN LOVE EACH OTHER SACRAFICIALLY AS JESUS LOVED US AND GAVE HIMSELF IN THE HIGHEST FORM OF SACRIFICE….FOR US AND FOR OUR SINS.

WE MAY NOT BE CALLED TO DIE FOR SOMEONE, BUT WE CAN STILL RENDER SACRIFICIAL LOVE IN MANY OTHER WAYS TO THOSE AROUND US! LOVE IS ACTION. LOVE COMMUNICATES. LOVE NEVER FAILS! 1 JOHN 3:18, “DEAR CHILDREN, LET’S NOT MERELY SAY THAT WE LOVE EACH OTHER; LET US SHOW THE TRUTH BY OUR ACTIONS. OUR ACTIONS WILL SHOW THAT WE BELONG TO THE TRUTH, SO WE WILL BE CONFIDENT WHEN WE STAND BEFORE GOD.” LOVE EXPRESSES ITSELF WHEN WE GIVE OF OURSELVES FOR THE SAKE OF OTHERS!

REMEMBER! THIS APPLIES TO ALL PEOPLE, NOT JUST THOSE IN OUR CHURCH OR CLOSE-KNIT CIRCLE OF FRIENDS. OUR LOVE HAS NO BOUNDARIES AND LOVES UNCONDITIONALLY.

LUKE 6:32-36, “IF YOU LOVE THOSE WHO LOVE YOU, WHAT CREDIT IS THAT TO YOU? EVEN SINNERS LOVE THOSE WHO LOVE THEM. AND IF YOU DO GOOD TO THOSE WHO ARE GOOD TO YOU, WHAT CREDIT IS THAT TO YOU? EVEN SINNERS DO THAT.

AND IF YOU LEND TO THOSE FROM WHOM YOU EXPECT REPAYMENT, WHAT CREDIT IS THAT TO YOU? EVEN SINNERS LEND TO SINNERS, EXPECTING TO BE REPAID IN FULL.

BUT LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, DO GOOD TO THEM, AND LEND TO THEM WITHOUT EXPECTING TO GET ANYTHING BACK. THEN YOUR REWARD WILL BE GREAT, AND YOU WILL BE CHILDREN OF THE MOST HIGH, BECAUSE HE IS KIND TO THE UNGRATEFUL AND WICKED. BE MERCIFUL, JUST AS YOUR FATHER IS MERCIFUL.”

I REALIZE THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO SHOW LOVE TO THOSE DEEMED UNLOVEABLE OR HARD TO LOVE CAN COME WITH A LEVEL OF RISK AND MAYBE DANGER, BUT WE ARE COMMANDED TO LAY ASIDE OUR LIVES FOR ALL PEOPLE. WE MAY NOT FEEL LOVE FOR THEM AT THE TIME, BUT WE CAN STILL RESPOND IN LOVING WAYS.