HE WHO GAVE HIS LIFE UP! Speaker: Dr. Paul Dhinakaran Gist: Jesus said, "I have power to lay my life down. I have power to take it again. I have come to give My life for My sheep." As the love of Jesus Christ was poured in the heart of John Wesley, he visited numerous villages on horseback and declared the love of Jesus Christ to everyone. He neither bothered about what the people, the leaders of the society or the religious heads talked about him nor did he give ear to the mockery and reproach of others. As the love of Christ was burning brightly in him, he laboured hard to transform the live of people through the love of Christ, so that they could prosper spiritually. For this glorious mission he sacrificed his own life. Despite the biting cold, people gathered around him to listen to listen to his graceful words about Jesus Christ.
They wept bitterly on coming to know about the sins they had committed and their lives were transformed completely. The press reporters approached John Wesley asking him, "Brother John Wesley, why do people come in search of you? Even in this very cold weather, people gather in large numbers to listen to you. What is the secret behind attracting such a huge crowd?" John Wesley answered, "John Wesley burns himself. People gather around him to see how he burns." Yes, he sacrificed his life so that the lives of other people were brightened through the light of his sacrificial life.
Are you going to follow the steps of John Wesley, who was burning with the love of God bringing life into the lives of innumerable people? John Wesley died to the glory, protection and prosperity of his life and in that process brightened the lives of people who were wallowing in darkness without a ray of hope towards recovery. In John 10:17, 18 Jesus said, 'I have power to lay my life down. I have power to take it again. I have come to give My life for My sheep." Again Jesus has said in Luke 14:26,27, "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple." Yes dear ones, the Lord invites us to lose our lives so that we gain them forever. When we lose our life for His sake, the Life of God is established in this earth and even in our own personal life, in our inner being the life of God is formed. Because of this the evil powers of this world can neither touch nor kill us. We are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). It is only in sacrificing our life that we make others live forever and ever.
Prayer
Our Loving Lord,
I praise and thank You for the sin cleansing blood of Your only begotten son Jesus Christ. Gracious heavenly Father, help me also to lead a sacrificial life so that I may brighten the lives of those whom I meet today. Let Your love flow through me so that others may witness Your likeness in me this day. In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen |