Sunday 9 Nov 2014

November 9: John 10:14-18

Key Verse: John 10:18
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.’

Devotion:
Today in churches all round Great Britain we remember all the fallen men and women from our past. These verses reflect some of the desire we have as fellow countrymen to protect those around us just as Jesus chose to protect His flock. Jesus came to earth as a human being with all the frailty that comes with being human and yet He chose to obey His Father in Heaven and to follow the command through to the end, which meant laying His own life down for our sakes.

We have similar choices in our lives, maybe not as dire as this choice Jesus had, but choices none the less. We can choose to ignore the instruction given us here. We can choose to ignore the people around us and focus on our selves. We can choose which ever direction we may; but we have to live with the consequences of those choices. We are given these choices and instructed of them, not that we will be too scared to make any other choice but to choose what we firmly believe in.

As youth workers we often are called to be humble and lay aside our self-worth so we can reach down and give a hand to someone in need. This should be the same for all Christians and not just those called to serve God be it in church or community. We need to take heed of what has gone before us and to remember the hell some have had to endure on earth just because of the feelings of some and the greed of others. Let us not get caught up in the same greed, pride and other sins that serve only to separate mankind.

Spend a short while today remembering what other men and woman have done for our sakes. How they too have willingly given their lives so that we could live. Remember too our Lord and Saviour who gave His own life for all of us.

Points to Ponder:
How quickly do you forget?

Are you ready to remember?