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October 13, 2016

I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Luke 5:32

The much-prayed-for film night at the church youth club had finally arrived. Posters had been displayed all around the village and pizzas were warming in the oven. Steve, the youth pastor, hoped that the film—about gang members in New York who were brought face-to-face with the claims of Jesus by a young pastor—would bring new recruits to the club.

But he hadn’t realized that a key football match was being shown on television that evening, so attendance was much smaller than he had hoped for. Sighing inwardly, he was about to dim the lights and begin the film when five leather-clad members of the local motorbike club came in. Steve went pale.

The leader of the group, who was known as TDog, nodded in Steve’s direction. “It’s free and for everyone, right?” he said. Steve opened his mouth to say, “Youth club members only” when TDog bent down and picked up a bracelet with the letters WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) stamped on it. “This yours, mate?” he asked. Steve nodded, hot with embarrassment, and waited while the new guests found a seat.

Have you ever been in Steve’s situation? You long to share the good news about Jesus, but you have a mental list of the “right” people who would be acceptable? Jesus was often criticized by the religious authorities for the company He kept. But He welcomed those everyone else avoided, because He knew they needed Him most (Luke 5:31–32).

Lord, please help me to see people through Your eyes of love and to welcome all those You bring into my life.

A heart that is open to Christ will be open to those He loves.

INSIGHT:

In ancient Israel, tax collectors were considered traitors to their country because they were employees of the occupying Roman force. To make matters worse, some tax collectors demanded more tax than required from their fellow citizens. Thus Jesus’s choice of a “traitor” as one of His closest followers would have seemed strange, to put it mildly. Yet when the religious leaders confronted Jesus, His defense was not only logical but revealed the depth of His love and mission. “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick” (Luke 5:31). Jesus wasn’t applauding the religious leaders while condemning the depravity of Levi. Instead He was placing everyone on the same level. All need the love and healing He offers.

Happy Thankful Thursday
To Amy's Place!

"The Long And Winding Road"
The Beatles
(Click)

Love this message! Thank you, Rus, for starting our day off right.

Good Morning To Amy's Place

Blessed are those that can give without remembering
and receive without forgetting.

I Wish You A Lovely Thankful Thursday

As a Minister to “Outlaw Bikers” I enjoyed today’s story. :-)

Oh, and I have also used that movie “The Cross and the Switchblade”, back in the days of 16mm FILM!

Talk about “Identifying with the Message!”

LOL!

Happy Thankful Thursday!

I am grateful for this beautiful day, and plan on riding my bike today to look at the leaves.

((((HUGS))))

ML/LTOS

Enjoy your ride! Sounds like a treat is in store!

Beautiful, MEG!

Hi Meg! What a beautiful floral painting. If I found it framed at a store, I’d buy it and hang it up!

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Dying for Others

October 14, 2016

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:11

I love birds, which is why I bought six caged birds and carried them home to our daughter Alice, who began to care for them daily. Then one of the birds fell ill and died. We wondered if the birds would be more likely to thrive if they were not caged. So we freed the surviving five and observed them fly away in jubilation.

Alice then pointed out, “Do you realize, Daddy, that it was the death of one bird that caused us to free the rest?”

Isn’t that what the Lord Jesus did for us? Just as one man’s sin (Adam’s) brought condemnation to the world, so one Man’s righteousness (Jesus’s) brought salvation to those who believe (Rom. 5:12–19). Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).

John makes it more practical when he says, “Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (1 John 3:16). This won’t likely mean literal death, but as we align our lives with Jesus’s example of sacrificial love, we find that we are “laying down our lives.” For instance, we might choose to deprive ourselves of material goods in order to share them with others (v. 17) or make time to be with someone who needs comfort and companionship.

Who do you need to sacrifice for today?

In what ways have others sacrificed for your well-being?

Share with us at odb.org.

Christ’s ultimate sacrifice for us motivates us to sacrifice ourselves for others.

INSIGHT:

John reminds believers to model the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ. True Christian love is sacrificial action (1 John 3:16) and selfless generosity (v. 17). John exhorts us to be loving and genuine, both in our speech and, more so, in our actions (v. 18). This kind of sacrificial love is the clearest of evidence that one has a new life (v. 14). The person who lacks love shows that he does not really know God nor is he in close fellowship with God, “for God is love” (1 John 4:7–8). Reminiscent of John 3:16, 1 John 4:9–10 once again reiterates how much God loves us (vv. 9–10).

Good Morning To Amy's Place

We Wear Red On Friday To Support Our Troops
Wishing Everyone A Great Weekend

Good Morning!

Proudly Wearing Red For Our Troops, on this Fine Autumn Day!

((((HUGS))))

ML/LTOS

Thank you for your sweet comments on my post yesterday.
(((HUGS)))

~A Happy Belated Birthday Dear TCP~
I Hope Your Day Was Wonderful

Thank you!
Had a very nice day, lots of cards this year.
It’s great to be 29 again!

LOL!

HAPPY FRIDAY TO
AMY'S PLACE!

First Lady Laura L. Bush

Happy Friday From The
Entire MacNessa Clan!

Wearing Red to support our Troops on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan and around the world!

Middle age is when you're sitting at home on a Saturday night and the telephone rings
and you hope it isn't for you.

Ogden Nash

Happy Caturday!

LOL...Cute, trisham! How’s Bongo doing?