THERE’S A FIRE
Luke 5:1-11
We catch the spirit of him who saves us. That’s a serving spirit. Yet we’re not thinking of it as service, nor counting up how much we’ve done. We’re thinking of him who did so much for us. Love for Jesus becomes a fire in our bones, and we are thinking about how to get Jim and Dick and Mary and the rest of them to know him. We’ll do lots of things for others, to have them get to know him.
WITH A GLAD RESPONSE
Mark 6:7-13; Mark 6:30
Jesus draws and drives. He draws us irresistibly to himself. His peace sings its soft music within. His love kindles fires on the hearthstone of the heart. So he drives us out; not from him, for him, out to others, nearest and farthest. For love serves. It gives freely. It goes gladly. It sacrifices without thinking of the word. It must serve; that is its life. It can serve; for only love-service is real service.
TO-FOR-WITH
John 10:10-18
The oriental shepherd gives himself to his sheep. He shares their life. He eats with them, sleeps with them, braves the storm with them, plans for them, guides them continually, and fights their enemies as his own. He loves them. If need be, he gives his life to save theirs. This is what Jesus does. He gave himself for us on Calvary. And he gives himself to us in the daily need of our lives.
LIFE IS SOMEONE LIVING IN YOU
John 5:24-29; John 5:39-40
Anyone may accept Jesus as a Saviour to be trusted, a Friend to be companioned with, a Master to be obeyed. Then he comes in. And with him comes life—purity of heart, victory over temptation, vigor of body, keenness of mind, patience under difficulties, guidance in perplexities, loving sympathy with others, faithfulness in common things. The thing is to let Jesus in habitually. There will be as much of life as there is of him in the life.
GOD’S BEST OUTDOES SIN’S WORST
John 11:35-45
Can a thing be worse than the worst? You’re pretty apt to think so when it touches you. The “only daughter” had just died— humanly a hopeless case. The “only son” was being carried to his burial—one step further in hopelessness. This “only brother” has been buried four days—the very last degree of hopelessness. But Jesus’ restoring power is unfailing. And his love is greater yet. He can, and he will, if he may get our consent.
