Today's Scripture
John 15:13-15; Psalms 40:8; Hebrews 12:1-2
“I have called you friends.” John 15:15
We will never know the joy of self-sacrifice until we surrender in every detail of our lives. Yet self-surrender is the most awkward thing for us to do. We make it conditional by saying, “I’ll surrender if …!” Or we approach it by saying, “I suppose I have to devote my life to God.” We will never find the joy of self-sacrifice in either of these ways.
But as soon as we totally surrender, yielding ourselves completely to Jesus, He gives us a taste of His joy through His indwelling Spirit. The ultimate goal of self-sacrifice is to lay down our lives for our Friend (see John 15:13-14). When we allow Jesus to baptize us with His Spirit, our greatest desire is to lay down our lives for Him. Yet the thought of self-sacrifice never even crosses our minds because sacrifice is the Holy Spirit’s ultimate expression of love. We are now empowered to be His witness and walk in His likeness.
Jesus is our example of a life of self-sacrifice, and He perfectly exemplified Psalm 40:8, “I delight to do Your will, O my God.” He endured tremendous personal sacrifice, yet with overflowing joy. Have you ever yielded yourself in absolute submission to Jesus Christ? If He is not the One to whom we are looking for direction and guidance, then there is no benefit in our sacrifice. However, when our sacrifice is made with our eyes focused on Him, His molding influence becomes slowly but surely evident in our lives (see Hebrews 12:1-2).
Beware of letting your natural desires hinder how you walk in love before God. One of the cruelest ways natural love is killed is by basing it on natural desires. But the one true desire of a believer is the Lord Jesus. Love for God is not something emotionally sentimental; to love as God loves is the most practical thing imaginable.
“I have called you friends.” Our friendship with Jesus is based on the new life He creates in us, which has no resemblance to or attraction to our old life but to His Life. It is a life that is completely humble, pure, and devoted to Him.
Today's Prayer
Lord, thank you for Your empowering Spirit. Help us to hold our natural desires in check so that our walk with You in Your love for others is not hindered. Help us to grow and develop our one genuine desire to follow You alone.