Friday, April 24, 2009
2 Corinthians 5:15 He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.
JESUS LIVES! TO HIM WE LIVE!
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). Jesus did just that -- and a lot more. Jesus not only died for disciples like Peter, James and John, He laid down His life for future disciples like Paul, Luke, you and me. In so doing Jesus died not only for His friends but for His enemies as well. After all, He is the holy Son of God and "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
Christ's love for us is a powerful force in our hearts and lives. His love not only moves us to want to live for Him, it enables us to do so. You see, Jesus' love works more than an emotional response to His sacrificial death in our place. Jesus' love is God's grace in action. And the message of peace restored between God and sinners through Jesus' death and resurrection works a fundamental change within us. When the Gospel gives birth to faith in our hearts, we come under new Management. The old sinful self is removed as a position of authority in our lives and the living Christ lays claim to His rightful place as Lord of those to whom He has given new life through the remission of sins.
Jesus lives! For me He died,
Hence will I, to Jesus living,
Pure in heart and act abide,
Praise to Him and glory giving.
Freely God does aid dispense;
This shall be my confidence.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 201:3)
