Hello beloved,
It has been a difficult time emotionally lately. The season bringing on so many memories of years gone by, it is also my first Christmas living alone. No tree for me, I put up my Nativity in the window for others to see. No smells of baking from my daughter with Christmas music filling the air. I played some the other day and tears kept clouding my eyes.
Today during worship I saw in a vision my hands were pierced as I raised them to the Lord. Then this verse rose up in me,
"I have been crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ lives in me. And the life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God Who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20
As I took this in I cried out to the Lord in my heart, Oh Lord, let it be so! No living for myself, but laying my life down for the One who laid His down for me. Oh how I did not seek it, nor do I deserve such a love but it is mine.
I had it demonstrated to me in human form for over 30 years. My husband who laid his life down daily for the Lord by loving the way Christ does was my greatest teacher. How I pray that I can continue in what I have been shown. What fulfillment is there in living for oneself. The Lord showed us the way of greatest joy..... LOVE. He IS Love!
"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends."
I Corinthians 13:4-8
This is what we have been shown, this is what we must show others. We cannot do this in our own strength, but we are not alone, Christ lives in us! And the life that lives in us is the same one that laid it down for the world.
A young man shared the message today. He is going to be married in less than a month and the Lord is challenging him to prefer his bride, to lay his once selfish attitudes down for her. It was so refreshing to hear how the Lord was specific in dealing with him. His honesty was inspiring and it reminded me how my husband still called me his bride right before he went home to be with the Lord. When men came to him about wife troubles he would challenge them with the call of the head of a household. He'd say, "You want to be the head? Like Christ is the head of the church? Then lay down your life and die...." This does not give the woman headship, it gives her an example to do the same.
I was led daily to the cross by John. May we go there daily and lead others there as well......if we do the world will know Him.
In a day of hurried angry souls, let us remember (as the young man said today) we are His ambassadors. You and I have been given the greatest gift, lets pass it on.......
