We Remember

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. – (John 15:13, NIV)

The greatest love people can show is to die for their friends. – (John 15:13, ERV)

There is no greater way to love than to give you life for your friends. – (John 15:13, VOICE)

Jesus was the ultimate example of this, for He chose to bear all of our burdens and die on the cross in our place because He so loved. Because He was fully God and fully man, Jesus had all access to the power present within Him. However, because He loved us more than His own life, He laid it down and took the consequence for all of our sin, once and for all. Jesus did this for all, whether we accept or reject Him. Those who accept Him are considered His friends, yet His love is present for all. As many of us enjoy an extra day off, may we remember those who laid down their lives to protect all of ours. Memorial Day is a day to remember those who paid the ultimate price to protect and preserve the freedom we know and love. May we take pause today to remember with gratitude, those who paid the ultimate price on our behalf, and give God our thanks and praise for the sacrifice that Jesus made to make the way for us to be in right relationship with Him.

Lord, we remember,

with all thanks and praise;

the one sacrifice,

that opened the way.

The way that You gave,

Your life for our own;

opened wide the doors,

so Your heart is known.

The next closest thing,

is all those who died;

serving our nation,

to protect, provide.

May we remember,

their great sacrifice;

as for our freedoms,

they gave their own lives.

All thanks be to God,

Whose love goes beyond;

our understanding,

in love, let’s respond.

In true thanksgiving,

let us give our praise;

for all the fallen,

as Love leads the way.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You paid the ultimate price for us all so that each might have the opportunity to know You and come into a lasting relationship with You. Thank You for the men and women who serve, and particularly for those who laid down their lives to serve and protect our nation. Forgive us for not recognizing the weight of the sacrifice that You made, and for our lack of appreciation for those who gave their lives to protect the freedoms we know and love. Teach us to appreciate and honor those who paid with their lives, and give us a deeper understanding of all that You did to make the way for us to be in relationship with You. Show us how to love like You so that all may come to know the goodness of Your grace. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we thank and praise You for laying down Your life for ours, and remember with appreciation, those who have served and lost their lives to protect. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

We love because He first loved us. – 1 John 4:19

Purposed To Love

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” – (Luke 6:37, NIV)

“Don’t judge others, and God will not judge you. Don’t condemn others, and you will not be condemned. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.” – (Luke 6:37, ERV)

“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults – unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang.” – (Luke 6:37, MSG)

If Jesus did not come to condemn the world, but rather to save it, how much more ought we do our best to follow His example? We are told in the book of Luke how to follow Jesus’ example. What we give, is the very thing that we will be given in return. We celebrate Easter to remember that rather than being judged, Christ took our place and withstood the punishment we all deserve. He died, so we might live. Incredibly, in His power, He rose again and ascended to be seated at the right hand of the Father. In His goodness, Jesus loves, listens and moves on our behalf. There is nothing we have done to deserve His love, yet He loves anyway. It is our call to love in the same way. We cannot judge, condemn and harbor unforgiveness and simultaneously love. May we ever seek the Lord to learn how to love best, and turn to Him every time that we struggle with our opinions of others. To see people through Christ’s lens, is to see and understand the beauty in every being. God created because He loved, He sent His Son, because He loved, and Jesus took the punishment that we all deserved, again, because He loved.

Don’t judge nor condemn,

Or hold onto hurts;

Such things block the way,

From seeing true worth.

For how we choose give,

Will be given back;

Let love be our choice,

Give where there is lack.

Because of Jesus,

We each have been shown;

What God’s love looks like,

He has made it known.

Each word of kindness,

Every good deed;

All love we have felt,

God meeting our need.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You sent Your Son to save the world, not to condemn it. Thank You Jesus, for demonstrating what love ought to be. Forgive us for the times that we have allowed our hearts to entertain judgement, condemnation and unforgiveness. Teach us to love and embrace ALL people, recognizing the incredible creations that You have made. Every person on the planet was formed and planned with purpose. Show us how to better walk in love, so that all may experience Your goodness, kindness and grace in tangible ways. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we ever seek to grow in love and allow You to move and change our view of others to mirror Your own. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save it through Him. – John 3:17