Love Sacrifices
Recently my husband and I watched an inspiring movie on Amazon Prime called “A Million Miles Away,” the true story of Jose Hernandez who had a dream. He and his family came to the US as migrant workers in the 70’s and moved around in central California picking the produce that graced our tables. Even as a young boy, he and the rest of the family would get up at 4:15am to get into the fields to pick, then the children would go home and go to school. As the work moved from farm to farm, the children changed schools. Not an easy life. Often at night, Jose would wonder about the stars he saw in the sky and his dream was born. He wanted to be an astronaut. Impossible you say? Yet, he had a drive to achieve this goal, it did happen, but getting there was full of obstacles and required sacrifice from not only himself but others who loved him. His family saved money from their hard labor to buy a home but sacrificed their own dream so he could go to college and get an engineering degree and later a master’s degree. His wife encouraged and supported his dream fully even though it meant she had to parent five children alone often. They kept him from giving up because they loved him and saw he could do it! The story of Jose’s success reminded me that love sacrifices.
The story of Jesus and our redemption is all about love and sacrifice. This quote from Tim Keller sets the framework for understanding what Christ has done for us:
“We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.”
We are not born good and we’ve always needed a Savior.
“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags…” Isaiah 64:6
“There is no one righteous, not even one; ...there is no one who does good, not even one.” Romans 3:10,12
And because we know from Romans 6:23 that the payment for sin is death, love would sacrifice Himself that it might be paid. In John 10:1-21, Jesus declares four times that He will lay down His life for us! He did it voluntarily, sacrificing Himself on our behalf. Thanks be to God, that is not the end of the story because He also declared that He would take up His life again.
Did you notice the phrase in Keller’s quote ‘at the very same time?’ This next verse encapsulates the truth.
“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
Dear ones, our sin is never too great that His blood could not wash it away. His sacrifice is more than sufficient because that is what love has done.
Reflect: Throughout your day, ponder how great Jesus’ sacrifice was for you. And remember what that little phrase ‘at the very same time’ means in your life.
Francie Overstreet
Love Unifies
John 10:16 records Jesus explaining to the Pharisees that there is but “one flock and one shepherd” and that hearing His voice was the true test of belonging. As if this wasn’t audacious enough, he told them that there were “other sheep” that belonged as well. This caused a rattle among the Pharisees. They understood that they were God’s chosen sheep and that he was saying that God’s grace and salvation were for the Gentiles (the “other sheep”). A statement that was so inclusive it caused division!
When I come across verses like this one that points out God’s heart was always for everyone, I get overwhelmed with gratitude because that includes me! Without the Good Shepherd, I could not belong. God’s beautiful redemption plan is for all who trust in the Good Shepherd’s sacrifice at the cross and hear His voice. Let’s be encouraged to be sheep that guard against division so that before the throne there may be “every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues” (Revelation 7:9).
Jessica Klootwyk
Groups & Women’s Discipleship Director
The Good Shepherd Remains
John 10:15
At the beginning of every backpacking trip I’ve gone on, there’s a discussion about what to do if a bear comes into the camp. There are the normal suggestions of trying to make yourself look big, making noise to try to scare them away, and keeping in mind that bears are more scared of you than you are of them. I’m not sure how anyone could validate that last claim, but it makes us feel better. After those suggestions are given, I’d usually throw in one last piece of advice. “If a bear comes into the camp, you don’t have to be the fastest person in the group, you just can't be the slowest.” Ha!
How terrible is that? To think or suggest that a guide would ditch people they were charged to care for and preserve themselves instead of defending the ones they are leading. Yet, we see this kind of activity all the time. We see those in positions of power using people to pad their own pockets or further their own agendas, rather than doing what’s best for those in their care. We see people split when times get tough rather than standing firm in the midst of trials.
This is nothing new. It happened in Jesus’ day too. Listen to the way Jesus talked about it in John 10. He said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.” (John 10:11-13) Jesus was suggesting that the religious leaders had the mentality that they didn’t have to be the fastest person in the group, but they just couldn’t be the slowest. They were using people instead of serving people; taking advantage rather than giving themselves in love.
As the Good Shepherd, Jesus stands in stark contrast to the religious leaders of his day. He boldly declares that when trouble and threats come, he remains. He’s there when life is great and he’s by our side when life is hard. When the wolves and bears stroll into the camp of our lives, Jesus stands between us and them. Jesus is showing us in narrative form what the Apostle Paul taught in Romans 8:38-39 when he wrote, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
I don’t know who needs to hear this today, but Jesus loves you way too much to leave you. Nothing you have done or could ever do would cause him to desert you. He’s with you today and he always will be; he’s The Good Shepherd.
Pastor Ryan Paulson
The Good Shepherd Prophesied
Many centuries earlier, a young shepherd named David watched over his family’s sheep in the hill country of Bethlehem. The experience of shepherding instilled in David keen spiritual insights about God as the shepherd of His people. Those insights were beautifully memorialized in Psalm 23:1 when David wrote, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…”. God later called David to shepherd the nation of Israel as king for several decades. They proved to be some of the best years in the history of the Jewish nation. But tragically, many other kings and priests in the centuries that followed were dismal examples of “shepherds” over God’s people. Instead of leading God’s flock to green pastures, those unfaithful leaders abused God’s sheep through pride and avarice. After several centuries, God judged the unfaithful “shepherds” in Ezekiel 34:4-5 declaring, “with force and cruelty you have ruled [the sheep]. So they were scattered [for lack of] a shepherd…” I imagine that Jesus had such examples of unfaithful shepherds’ in mind when he cried out, “All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.” (Jn. 10:8).
In Ezek. 34:22-24, God revealed that one day He would send a unique shepherd to watch over His people, promising that “...I will save My flock, and they will no longer be prey…I will establish one shepherd over them…He shall feed them and be their shepherd.” In the fullness of time, God sent His only begotten Son to fulfill this prophecy. Knowing he had come in fulfillment of Ezekiel. 34:22-24, Jesus declared, “I am the good shepherd; and I know my sheep, and I am known by My own.” (Jn. 10:14).
It’s a great comfort to know as believers that the Son of God shepherds us, loves us, protects us and continually leads us in paths of righteousness. If we follow Jesus wherever he leads, there’s no need to see what’s on the path ahead. Our shepherd goes before us and He has every possibility covered. As believers we can be eternally grateful that God has counted us to be part of the Good Shepherd’s flock!
Pastor Dave Korinek
Hear His Voice
Researchers say that adult Emperor Penguins can recognize their mates and their chicks by the unique sounds of their voice. This is vital so parents can care for offspring and each other in colonies with thousands and thousands of members. I don’t know how they do it, but that is what God made them to do.
Jesus said that voice recognition is an important trait for believers too. In John 10:3-6, he explains that sheep respond to their shepherd’s voice.
The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
Sheep know their shepherd’s voice and they trust it, but not a stranger’s. Christians know Jesus' voice and trust his ways, but they don’t trust teachings and ideas that go against what he said.
It is interesting that the folks who heard Jesus say that didn’t follow his illustration, “but they did not understand what he was saying to them.” Some people imagine that Christianity is about going to heaven and not hell. That is an important benefit, but it is not the main point or focus of the life or practice of a Christian. Christianity has always been about believers training believers to trust God’s revealed truth. Believers hear his voice by knowing and living out what Jesus says. He explains it like this in John 15:7-8, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
Remaining in Jesus and having his words “his voice” remain in us is key to bearing fruit and being his disciple (a part of his flock). So, study, read, memorize, and focus on his words all the time so you will know them and be able to quickly recognize whenever you hear voices that are not from him.
John Riley
I Once was (and sometimes am) Blind
Ever known a person who irritated you more and more? Someone that you just couldn’t stand, someone that you found yourself, dare I suggest, hating from the core of your being? Feeling that way can happen to anyone and does happen to almost everyone at some point or points in life. The irritated person blames the irritator for making them feel that way, but it really isn’t that person’s fault.
I remember a sermon where the pastor said, “A critical spirit is a sign that you are distant from God.” This was a shock. Before the sermon, we sang to the Lord during a beautiful time of worship and I believed that I loved God. But I was also critical of so much going on around me. I felt justified in being critical because the things (or people) I made fun of or spoke out about were (I thought) worthy of criticism. I was blind.
The Pharisees felt the same way. They hated Jesus more and more as he broke their rules and claimed to be from God. Look at their interaction with the man Jesus healed who had been born blind. John 9:24, “So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, ‘Give glory to God. We know that this man (Jesus) is a sinner.” Give glory to God by agreeing with us. Give glory to God by hating this guy like we do. Give glory to God by acknowledging that he is the problem, not us. It is not our hearts that need to change. This irritant, this pest, this problem of a person needs to go. 1 John 2:9 says this about it, “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness.” Blinded.
I’m not saying that none of the people around us have problems, but I am saying that if you find yourself embittered toward or hating your spouse, a family member, a former friend, or anyone in your life, you are blind to what is really happening in your heart.
Jesus looked at all the losers, creeps, and idiots making his life miserable and said, Luke 23:34 “Father, forgive them, they don’t know what they are doing.” Hate keeps people blind and comes from blindness. What is the cure for that blindness? Let God’s light shine. Expose the critical spirit and the hateful heart. Confess it and walk into loving and accepting people as they are. God does it. We can do it with each other.
Pastor John Riley
“Goodness! I’m blind!”
"You're such a good girl!" When I was young, I was told this for things like cleaning my room, being quick to obey, memorizing Bible verses, or helping a friend. Upon hearing it, my confidence was bolstered because my behavior was noticed as good and rewarded with praise. Those telling me this had no ill intent and only meant to encourage, but over time my young self began to equate success and the good things I did as affirmation of my value. Therefore, I repeated these behaviors and avoided any situation that might taint the status of my being 'good.' Fear of falling out of favor motivated my moral behavior and I was completely blind that I had taken a path of self-glorification by following the rules.
I had indeed been rescued from the kingdom of darkness by having a relationship with Jesus, but I was wandering in that kingdom seeing and moving about by striking a match to shine only to have to put in effort and re-strike matches over and over again to see. I was trying to light my world versus allowing Jesus to be the light of the world.
This continued until the Holy Spirit revealed the selfish motivation of my heart and my efforts to me. I remember thinking, "Goodness! I'm blind! How could I not see this before!?" Right in front of me was the raw sinful state of my heart despite my good behavior and positive worldly outcomes and rewards. Absolutely ashamed, I wanted to hide but the Lord at that same moment overwhelmed me with a sense of belovedness, peace and freedom. Tim Keller has a statement that captures what I was experiencing perfectly,
"We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope."
Why do I share this story of my blindness with you? To point you towards God, the only one who is truly good (Luke 18:19). As someone who answered a call to love, serve and equip the saints for ministry, I wish I could honestly say that I no longer get unhealthy value from verbal affirmation, success or from the good things that I do. But I live in this world still waging war against it, my own flesh, and the devil right along with you, and confess that it is a weakness of mine that I continually have to be on guard against. I do this by allowing the Word of God to search and lead me and by staying in vulnerable relationships with others so that my service in His house is for His glory.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Jessica Klootwyk
Groups & Women's Discipleship Director
Blind Fear
John 9:1-41
Becky was a divine appointment through a website prayer request that I personally responded to. She had ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease, and her husband had progressive MS. We began to correspond and eventually met in person at church. I’d just lost a good friend after a long battle with cancer, and then went through cancer myself including surgery, chemo, and radiation. I felt a heart tug toward Becky, but knowing what she was facing from my own research and maybe because of what I’d just gone through I remember crying out to the Lord, I just can’t lose another friend! I can’t watch her suffer as I knew she would. I just don’t have it in me to become close to Becky–and I’m not sure I’m even equipped to be of any help to her.
All I can say is that God in his mercy heard my honest pleading and in spite of it, Becky and I started meeting for coffee. She wanted to know how she could pray for me and my family and I wanted to know more about her. I felt as if I had always known her and it wasn’t long before she could no longer drive and I found out they lived only minutes away. (another God thing) I visited often, and she became my mentor, confidante and prayer warrior. We became close friends. Very often diseases like ALS scare friends away because they are scary diseases! Eventually, Becky spent most of her day in a special chair, had full-time care from her sister and it became difficult at the end to even speak. Yet, she still prayed and the love of Jesus still shone through her. Her husband Bill ended up in a rehab facility for a time and my husband began visiting him regularly and they became friends.
Why do I share this story with you? Because blindness comes in many forms for different reasons. My fear and insecurity might have cost me the blessing of a very special friendship and all of the things I learned as a result. I’m so grateful that God was in control of my life (not me) and blessed me with a wise friend as close as a sister in spite of myself. Her loss was hard and I’ve missed her greatly and think of her often, yet that pain was nothing compared to the joy she brought to my life. Jesus healed the blind man, but we all have blind spots God overcomes and protects us from. I am forever grateful he didn’t let my blind fear cause me to stand in my own way of a great blessing! Her final words to me were you are my joy! She was mine!
Do you have any blindspots caused by your own fear or insecurities? Ask the Lord to reveal them.
Deb Hill
The Big Why
As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.
John 9 1-3
I was born free of any disability, and I stayed that way for the first 18 months of my life. I ran around all over the place, and I had this fascination with water. Then, one day, I managed to elude my sitters and make my way to the pool. No one told me I didn’t know how to swim, I quickly discovered I couldn’t. Some unknown amount of time later, my poor mother discovered my limp body in the pool. The 911 call was timestamped, and the time the paramedics resuscitated me was recorded. My heart had been stopped for over 45 minutes! Then began the 3-and-a-half-month coma the doctors promised would never end. They swore up and down I‘d be a vegetable if I survived at all. I had multiple terminal infections, and one time, the doctors pronounced me dead for all of five minutes. Some of you know the whole story because you lived it alongside my folks. Emmanuel Faith prayed for my healing, and the Lord healed me. To those who did pray for me, I want to say a massive Thank You!
I eventually noticed the Lord chose to heal my body incompletely, though. He healed me from death to a very specific point: no more, no less. In high school, I would have given anything to be healed just a little more. My body has always felt like something to contend with; it seldom felt like me. I had hoped that God would complete the healing somehow, but I had to face the reality of this being a permanent thing. I can’t tell you how much I hated being so different, I despised not being able-bodied in ways even toddlers were.
I remember just clinging to my faith at school during lunch. I became aware of my desperate state, and I began looking for victory. The Lord tended to my broken heart by delivering brothers to prop me up and listen to me. Slowly, I’ve made peace with this, and then the Lord showed me I can use the whole situation to do some fairly amazing things. The Lord freed me from big sorrows, and I came to understand that we are meant to be much more than survivors in this world. We are meant to triumph over the darkness, and with his help, we can accept and conquer the hardest things.
I didn’t really ask for this life, but God is very good, and I’m stoked to see what the future holds. We just gotta anticipate the blessings more than we fear the cost! I have found God teaches us the most epic truths in the hardest stuff so we can anticipate epic stuff when we feel the darkest and do battle with it
Jonathan Duncan
Jonathan’s Story
We are Jonathan’s parents, John and Bette Duncan. We’ve been asked to weigh in on our perspective regarding God’s purpose in allowing Jonathan’s accident 37 years ago. To provide you with context, Jonathan suffered a severe brain injury due to a lack of oxygen. Although he survived with the remarkable skill of the ICU staff at Children’s Hospital, we were given the devastating news his injuries were so total and irreversible he would remain in a vegetative state for the remainder of his life. As the unbearable days turned into months, the message from neurologists stayed the same … no chance of any recovery or meaningful function. But our God, who specializes in the impossible, chose to miraculously alter the outcome of his injury…bringing him out of the coma that had locked him away for three and a half months! In those first brief moments, we got a glorious glimpse of Jonathan’s spirited self, complete with laughter…of course. Thus began a painfully slow journey of recovery….” that the works of God might be displayed in him.” What are the works of God? The Bible says God is a worker, a creator, but sin has marred His creation, and as a result bad things and disasters happen. People are disabled by blindness (John 9:1-3), palsy (Matt 9), loss of hearing, etc. But Scripture tells us in Leviticus 9:14..."You shall not curse the deaf nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God."
The ICU doctor in charge of Jonathan’s care initiated a well-documented study of his recovery including data from PT, OT, speech therapy, as well as an educational psychologist. The conclusion confirmed what we already knew in our hearts….he was a miracle! There hadn’t been another case with such severe anoxic brain damage with any recovery at all. In those first early days in the ICU, Pastor Joe Silvey, Jonathan’s two grandfathers, and we, his parents prayed for God’s touch of healing ... along with hundreds of believers around the world. His miraculous healing is a work of God.
As Jonathan developed and became increasingly articulate, we were thrilled at his unique perspective of life, its challenges, and how beautifully he experienced God‘s part in it all. The only problem …we were amongst only a few who could understand his speech. He would never be a preacher or Bible study leader or counselor. How could God possibly let these insights be wasted? Oh, such little faith!
As his parents, we traveled a path of deep grief, at the same time, giving every ounce of energy to his care and recovery. There were many times it wasn’t a pretty picture but God patiently grew (and grows) each one of us. We give praise to God, because He says in 2 Corinthians 12:9...."My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions and difficulties."
May the works of God continue to be displayed in each of our lives.
John & Bette Duncan