~ Give Thanks ~
Introductory
Scripture ~ There
is “A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace” (Ecclesiastes
3:8).
Special Tribute ~ In
the U.S.A. during the last year we have seen many individual Americans give
their lives to protect others. Special
honor this year is owed to our Police who have given their all during senseless
riots and to our first responders who have cared for those with the COVID virus
and lost their lives in the process.
Scripture
~ Jesus said, “These things I
have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be
full. This is My commandment, that you
love one another as I have loved you. Greater
love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John
15:11-13).
Comment
~ Many of our police and first
responders gave their lives to help or better citizens they did not know – unknown
people who were not their friends.
Give Thanks
~ For all who so gave as
themselves to have given the ultimate price for others. Thank you, most of all, to the Lord Jesus
Christ who gave His all to redeem his enemies from their sin.
“Let this mind
be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did
not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no
reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of
men. And being found in appearance as a
man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the
death of the cross. Therefore God
also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that
at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on
earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:5-11).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.
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