Walk-on Wednesday - No Greater Love - Martin Wiles

Welcome to Walk-on Wednesday. By Hump Day, we are struggling, but we believe a good devotion can strengthen us to finish the week strong.

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. John 15:13 NKJV

No greater love must have been his motto.

Although Joseph O’Callahan loved teaching at Holy Cross College, he felt the need to enlist. World War II raged, and he thought he could better exhaust his calling by helping those who fought.

Four years later, he found himself on the aircraft carrier, the USS Franklin, when a Japanese plane suddenly appeared and dropped two five-hundred-pound bombs. Flames erupted.

As a captain watched the flames creep closer to two enclosed gun turrets, he saw the padre moving through the flames with a fire hose. O’Callahan calmed others and even helped defuse bombs.

The ship was eventually saved. On May 17, 1945, in the Brooklyn Navy Ship Yard, awards were presented. As O’Callahan’s mother came aboard, Les Gehres, the captain, met her. He said, “I’m not a religious man. But I watched your son that day, and I thought if faith can do this for a man, there must be something to it.”

What better person to talk about laying down one’s life for others than the person who did? Thousands followed Jesus. Laying down his life for them—his friends—was honorable. But what about those who despised, abused, ridiculed, and tried to kill him? Could he lay down his life for them with the same ease?

Love demands action, as it did with Father O’Callahan and Jesus. If we only love in words, few benefit. True love for others requires that we do something . . . anything.

Jesus calls the ultimate expression evangelism. We don’t have to berate others with Bible verses or be obnoxious in other ways. We can simply demonstrate the love of Jesus in kind actions. Making Jesus a regular part of our daily conversations also helps us obey Jesus’ command. We don’t have to be Bible scholars—just Jesus talkers. In numerous simple ways, we can lay down our lives for others.

Choose one way you can give of yourself to someone.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, move us to lay down our lives for others even as you did yours for us. 

Tweetable: How are you showing God's love to others?

Thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Help us spread God's encouragement through His Love Lines.

Loosing the Arm of Unforgiveness - Martin Wiles

Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32 NLT

She saw him coming across the room. One who had made her life a living hell. 

Corrie ten Boom and her sister, Betsie, languished in prison until Betsie died. Shortly thereafter—later discovered to be through of a clerical error—authorities released Corrie. One week later, soldiers killed all the women her age. 

After her release, Corrie traveled over Holland and Europe telling of her experience. On one occasion, while speaking in Munich, she saw one of the Nazi guards from Ravensbruck coming toward her with a smile on his face. “How grateful I am for your message, Fraulein. To think that, as you say, He has washed my sins away,” he said.

He thrust his hand toward Corrie, but her arm felt as if glue held it to her side. She had to utter several prayers, asking God to help her forgive him, before she could bring herself to return his gesture. But when she did, something astounding happened.

In The Hiding Place, Corrie writes, “As I took his hand the most incredible thing happened. From my shoulder along my arm and through my hand, a current seemed to pass from me to him, while into my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me.”

Corrie experienced the joy of forgiveness—the kind Paul said believers should give.

The basis of our forgiveness is God’s forgiveness. When we ask—and no matter how often we ask—God is always willing to forgive. A significant part of His nature is love, and love demands forgiveness. When I’ve been forgiven by God, I’ll understand how ludicrous it is for me to refuse to forgive someone else, no matter how deeply they’ve hurt me.

Forgiveness is never easy and may require repeating. Forgiveness releases someone from a debt they owe us because of a wrong they’ve committed against us.

Forgiving the infraction doesn’t mean we place our stamp of approval on what they’ve done—or that they shouldn’t suffer consequences for their actions.

Peace results when we forgive. In fact, forgiveness benefits us more than it does the person we’re forgiving. Jesus said He came to bring peace. He also wants us to live abundantly. Both states of being require a regular habit of releasing those who harm us—physically, emotionally, and even spiritually.
  
With God’s help, forgive those who have wronged you.

Tweetable: Are you extending an arm of forgiveness?

Prayer: Father, as You have forgiven us, so help us to forgive others. 

Looking for a wide selection of genres in inspirational books at discount prices? Click here to see selections.

Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Help us spread God's encouragement through his love lines.

Thankful for Fleas - Martin Wiles

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT

“Betsie, how can we live in such a place?” she wailed.

They were Hollanders caught in the German invasion of their country. Discovering they held Jewish sympathies, the Nazis arrested the family and carted them off to prison. Eventually, all found freedom—except Corrie and Betsie.

Traveling between prison camps, the sisters wondered where they were headed this time. They soon found out: Ravensbruck, the notorious death camp. In addition to the lice infesting their bedding, fleas infected their barracks. When Corrie complained, Betsie reminded her of the Bible’s command to give thanks in all circumstances. Corrie didn’t understand.

Guards crammed fourteen hundred women into Barracks 28—an area designed to house four hundred. The flea infestation was so severe the guards wouldn’t enter the barracks. Only then did Corrie understand how Betsie could thank God for these conditions. Since the guards didn’t monitor their activity, Betsie and Corrie led Bible studies where many women found comfort in the pages of Scripture and where many came to know Jesus as Savior. 

Betsie followed Paul’s admonition. He also knew about challenging surroundings, but chose to give thanks anyway.

Thankfulness in all situations requires changing our state of mind. I’m more prone to complain than to thank. Corrie was too. It took Betsie to show her an alternate way. God can show us the same. Such a state of mind comes easier when we remember God’s in control of our situations.

Although they often do, circumstances shouldn’t determine whether or not we have a thankful attitude. Paul doesn’t imply we should get happy about our circumstances, but we can give thanks in them. Being happy about a tragedy is ludicrous, but I can choose to thank God in that circumstance. Doing so helps change my state of mind.

When we’re thankful in all circumstances, it reminds us things could be worse—and often are for others. It doesn’t take looking very far to find someone facing shoddier situations than we face. Seeing several homeless men in our area keeps me continually reminded of this truth.

As ironic as it might appear, giving thanks in all circumstances actually brings peace of mind. Obedience does this. And so does believing in a God who controls all things and who works all things together for the good of His children.

Regardless of what God brings or allows into your life, be thankful.

Tweetable: Are you thankful in all situations?

Prayer: Father, give us the faith to thank You daily, even in the direst circumstances.

Looking for a wide selection of genres in inspirational books at discount prices? Click here to see selections.

Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Help us spread God's encouragement through his love lines.