Love's Sacrifice - Matthew 27:45-46

There is a story that a forest ranger in Yellowstone found a bird carcass after a fire, knocked it over, and out ran three baby chicks that were protected by the mother bird's sacrifice of her own life. It makes a great illustration of what true sacrifice is all about - one willing to lose his or her life for someone else.

Only problem with the story is that it is apparently not true, at least as it has been spread. Supposedly the story was in a National Geographic, but a search of the magazine and asking the Park Rangers turns up nothing. Yep, it is disappointing, but all hope is not lost. True sacrifice does exist.

Let me tell you something about sacrifice that is true; Matthew 27:45 – 46 records, “From about the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” This is of course a record of what happened when Jesus was dying on the cross.

We often think of the great sacrifice the Lord made by dying for our sins to be forgiven. We think about His burden of the sins, or the torturous death he endured. We know how much it must have hurt to have his disciples run away. But perhaps the greatest part of the whole sacrifice was the separation from the Father these verses spotlight. For a period of time the Trinity connection was somehow disconnected. For the first time in His life and in eternity Jesus didn't have that incomprehensible unity and fellowship. The agony of those moments was beyond anything else He endured – and He did it for you!

Will you ignore Him and the sacrifice or bow in worship and adoration because of the love He showed?

The Circuit ‘Riter, Michael Ullrich

Love's Looks - 1 John 3:2

   We like food cooked outside on our grill.  We have tried fish, potatoes and other vegetables, hot dogs and a variety of meats.  The most common thing cooked on the grill is probably hamburger.
    I am finally really getting the hang of things so my grilled finished product is more consistent.  Not nearly so many "burnt sacrifices!"  Once I cooked some steak and hamburgers and  when we placed one of the beef and oatmeal patties on then 4 year old Daniel's plate, he asked what it was.  We told him it was a hamburger and he replied, "I thought they were supposed to be black!"
    I didn't think I had been doing THAT bad.  Poor kid wasn't sure what a good hamburger was supposed to look like.
    Ever wonder what you will "look like" in heaven when you are all "done?"  It is encouraging to me to know that God does things right.  So I take that as assurance that I will "look" just right in heaven.  But also the Bible says in 1 John 3:2b, "We know that when He (Jesus) appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is."
    Now, I don't understand all of that but I know that in some way, what really matters about me will be brought into conformity with what Jesus is like.  That is the promise to the believer in Christ.

The Circuit ‘Riter, Michael Ullrich

Love's Promise - 1 John 2:25

    I have a poor memory for some things.  There is no getting around it.   I finally came to the conclusion when, on several occasions, what someone else recalled I had said was proved to be true.  To that point I fought the accusation because I couldn't remember saying what I said!  That's the big problem with a flawed memory, you don't know you have it.
    Since coming to grips with my shortcoming, I have tried to be more careful about what I say.  For instance, I try hard not to make promises that I haven't thoroughly thought out. I also use a calendar a lot and notes as well, however sometimes I forget to look at the calendar and I lose my notes.
    My greatest concern is with my family.  I don't want to promise them something I won't or can't fulfill.  I would much rather disappoint a non-family member that I don’t have to see all the time. Do I do a good job of this practice? I don’t remember…
    As a child of God I am especially thankful that the Heavenly Father has a perfect memory.  Can you imagine the chaos if God were to somehow forget to have the Sun rise or even allow the Moon to stray from its path for even a few moments?  Thankfully, God doesn't forget!
    The most important promise in the Scriptures is referred to in 1 John 2:25. "This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life."  John 3:16 says that you only have to "believe" in Jesus, God's only Son to have eternal life.  Have you?  Is His promise to you?  He won't forget it or you if you have trusted Him! 

The Circuit 'Riter, Michael Ullrich

Love's Confession - 1 John 2: 22-23

    Sometimes trying to figure out how people are related can be a little tough.  I have some relatives that I know are cousins of some sort, but I can't figure out whether they are third cousins or one of the those "removed" relatives!  You can imagine for a small child, it can even be a lot harder to fathom.
    Every once in a while we had one of those "figure it out" sessions with youngest when they were preschoolers.  The first relationship they really had to work at was that of understanding that their grandparents were our parents.  To them, children had to be small. How could someone my size be a child to anyone?  Throw in one of my adult siblings and their spouse, and things got a bit more confusing.  When one of them had been divorced, I think the small ones felt lost!
    I am proud to say that once they understood who we as their parents are, they have always been willing to claim us.  They aren't afraid to say, "he's my dad!"
    According to 1 John 2:22 + 23, those who cannot confess that they are "related" to Jesus Christ through His sacrifice for them, are not!  Also, those who deny having that relationship never had it in the first place (see vs. 19).
    Could you declare before heaven and earth today that Jesus is the Christ?  Do you believe that to be true?  It is the most important question you could ever answer.

The Circuit ‘Riter, Michael Ullrich

Love's Enemy - 1 John 2:15-17

    I have an insidious enemy that seems to lurk all around me.  Everywhere I go, there it is waiting for me.  Just when I think I have this enemy held at bay, someone comes along and brings it back into my presence again!  Seems like I will never win this battle, but then again, there are occasional rays of hope.
    What horrible enemy, you ask, is so stalking me and making my life miserable?  Why, it is that terror of diabetics, that nemeses of the weight watching body -- CHOCOLATE!
    Now, I know you think I love chocolate, so how could it be my enemy?  Truth is, I do "love" it, but it does bad things to me.  For instance, if I eat enough of it, my skin will break out and I may even experience a slight headache.  Yes, something I like can be my enemy.  That is what the great Apostle was writing about in 1 John2:15-17.  You may have a destructive love relationship with the world that needs overcome.
    Notice verse 15 says, "Do not love the world nor the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." The "world" seeks to drag Christ's followers down with it.  Ever notice how someone who is doing something wrong or sinful can hardly stand to not have you involved too?
    Love's enemy is the love of something that isn't good for you. Verses 16 & 17 explain that the things of this world are not from the Father.
    What do you love?  Are you willing to put it aside if it is in opposition to Jesus Christ?  Love's enemy is loving the wrong things!

Love's Maturity - 1 John 2:12-14

   A fascinating study is that of children and their maturity levels. From one child to the next in our family there are marked differences in the way they respond and play. The younger ones may spend a great deal of time entertained by pulling around a small toy. At a little older age, hours are taken in play-acting. Sometimes the boys got so dressed up in their "cowboy" gear that they were almost unrecognizable.
    As the children age, their taste for fun usually changes.  At thirteen Nathan could spend hours inventing something or making some gadget to fulfill a perceived need. Once he concocted a doorbell for his bedroom!  It even had a button on his end to activate a response light so I could know if he heard the bell!
    Youthful immaturity is entertaining except when found in someone older. It is sad when a twenty-year-old who acts like a six-year-old. When someone doesn't mature, there is something wrong.
    John wrote to Christians of varying maturity (1 John 2:12-14).  To each he had a word of encouragement and explanation as to why he had addressed them. He didn't disparage that all were not mature. However, John was expecting them to be MATURING. It is sad when a Christian doesn't mature.
    Are you still growing in the Lord? You should be until the day He calls you home. What are you doing to grow? Are you reading the Word  and talking with God? Are you exercising your faith by telling others about Jesus?
The Circuit ‘Riter, Michael Ullrich

Love's Sight - 1 John 2:7-11

   As often falls to me in my household, I recently had to work on one of our vehicles. Underneath the dashboard a small vacuum powered “motor” or valve had apparently quit working, making it impossible to circulate air in the car. The result was a car that was very uncomfortable to drive.
    Now to fix something under a dashboard takes a special level of nimbleness. For all practical purposes it really helps if you are double jointed (about halfway up your back). Not only do you work upside-down but must be able to think at the same time! I found myself in that position with one element missing, light.
    Working under a dashboard is similar to looking into a “black hole” in space. In the darker interior vehicle like I was fixing, very little light seems to get under the dashboard even in the daylight.
    John shared with his readers (1 John 2:7-11) that followers of Christ should have a different standard than the world when it comes to "hating" others. We have "light" that is supposed to shine in our hearts, without which we "stumble" (v. 10).  In verse 11 John makes the observation, "The one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because his eyes are blinded."
     Harbored sin, like hating a brother, only hurts me. It only hurts you! If you want to experience Christ's leading in your life, make sure your sight is not obstructed by the sin of hate. Confess it today.
The Circuit 'Riter, Michael Ullrich

Love's Walk - 1 John 2:6

   Once a year I take about a week to go to a pastor's conference at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.  It is a long drive but I have always found the expense and accompanying hassles of being away for it to be worth it.  Moody also happens to be the school that I graduated from so a pilgrimage there brings back a lot of great memories and even some old habits.
   I find when I hit the concrete streets and pathways around the school, I kick into kind of an overdrive when I walk. Back in my college days, I was often in somewhat of a hurry as I made my way between classes and other campus functions. When I am walking along with friends, I tend to leave them in the dust on occasion if I am not paying attention. I have to force myself to slow down or spend some lonely and somewhat embarrassing time way out in front of my fellows.
   The Bible uses the walking metaphor on several occasions in describing the Christian life.  In 1 John 2:6, John writes, "the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked."  The pronoun "He" is referring to Jesus Christ. The true believer should be striving to imitate the life walk of Jesus.
   A one time catchy popular marketed abbreviation - WWJD? - illustrates the idea, "What Would Jesus Do?"  If Jesus were in your shoes, what would He do? What would He say? How would He walk?
   To know the answer to those questions you must know Jesus as more than just Savior. That takes time in the Word of God and fellowship with the Lord. You have to make an effort to know how Jesus would walk.
   If you Love Him you should strive to walk in His way today. This is Love's true walk.
The Circuit ‘Riter, Michael Ullrich

Love's Demonstration - John 13:1-17

   Whether it be occupy Wall Street or the “Arab Spring”, recent times have seen a resurgence of the demonstration. People, many with nothing else to take up their time because of a lack of jobs, have taken their concerns and arguments to the public arena by carrying a sign, handing out literature, or in extreme cases, throwing bombs.

   Personally I am not attracted to demonstrations as a way to express an opinion. Generally my interest in a cause diminishes when I see one. It would not be my style to be involved in such activity. But true passion or love or concern needs to be demonstrated in some way or it is not believable. In other words, don’t say you care about me and then ignore my needs.

   In the last hours before Jesus’ death on the Cross John tells us he ‘showed them (His disciples) the full extent of His love.’ Was it by giving them some great gift, or doing some miracle? No, Jesus washed their feet (John 13:1-17)!

   At the end of the passage Jesus explains the message of the action. You and I need to serve if we are to show true love. We can’t push ourselves to the forefront and ask to be honored if we are going to be like Jesus.

   Read the passage and ponder these things and decide where you need to “wash feet” this week.

The Circuit ‘Riter, Michael Ullrich

Love's Consistency - 1 John 2:6

   Many years ago we put on a garage sale that taught me a simple lesson other than I don't like putting on garage sales. We had to borrow tables and do a lot of figuring to make everything work in as efficient a manner as you might think a garage sale could.  We even figured out a way to provide a little refreshment. Our youngest children, Ben and Daniel, had their own little pop shop right outside the front door. We supplied the product and told them to ask people going out if they wanted to buy any pop (soft drinks for those of you not from the Midwest). They were hard to resist, those two cute little guys doing what turned out to be a profitable adventure!
    The starting time was set for 8 a.m., but someone was outside at 6:30 a.m. wanting to buy early. We explained that we were going to be consistent and not start till 8. He argued that he was going to buy something and we shouldn't turn him away. Finally, he left and didn't return.
    Consistency has a price. If you are going to be fair to all in garage sales you have to stick to the time advertised!  In your walk as a Christian, you also show your love for the Lord by being consistent. 1 John 2:6 says that "we ought to walk in the same manner " Jesus walked. We shouldn't say we are going to do one thing and then do another. We shouldn't tell the Gospel and live like atheists. We should practice our abiding.
    Since John is exhorting us to this, realize that it does take effort.  As you go through this day, will you make an effort to be lovingly consistent in your walk with Christ ?  It may cost you something, but it is the right thing to do!
The Circuit ‘Riter, Michael Ullrich

Love's Lawyer - 1 John 2:1-2

Much to our great concern, Bonita and I ran across a grades note the one day from one of our children’s teachers. Reviewing the list of apparent "F's" got us rather stirred up to say the least. We decided it was time to go to the teacher and figure out what was going on. Without doing that we could only see grounding the kid from sports and other extracurricular activities (possibly for life!). Fortunately he had an advocate.
    The advocate ended up being the teacher. Seems there was a little misunderstanding as to the meaning of the grades. When the situation was known and the grades properly interpreted we found him to be in much more acceptable shape academically. Without his teacher stepping in as his "lawyer", everyone would have been very upset.
    In part, 1 John 2:1+2 reads, "And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins."
    We would not be able to maintain the relationship we have with the Father if the Son didn't lovingly step in as our Lawyer. In a sense, Jesus stands before the Father representing us and saying something like, "yes, he has sinned, but here is the document written in My Blood that shows that sin has been forgiven!"
    Have you thanked God recently that He lovingly appointed an attorney for you in Jesus Christ? You are represented well!
The Circuit ‘Riter, Michael Ullrich

Love's Forgiveness - 1 John 1 9

Few things in life probably bothered me more than accidentally hurting one of my children. On several different occasions over those years when the kids were little I was roughhousing with them when they did something I didn't expect like running into my leg or elbow, causing them a small "owie." When they are bigger I may say, "you need to be more careful." But with a small child I tend to feel really bad. Now it is time to start paying attention to the grand-kids on those limited occasions when we can play with them.
            To make matters harder on me when I was an offending parent, while I am holding and patting my little boy, he might be snuggling and patting me! The thought crossed my mind, "who's comforting who here?"
              I am thankful that my children are a forgiving bunch. Hopefully as they’ve grown up and looked back at the mistakes I have made as a parent, they will continue to be forgiving!
            I like what the Bible says about God's loving forgiveness. In 1 John 1:9 it says, that in confessing our sins to God "He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us... " The role is reversed. I am the offending one and God is comforting me by saying, "I forgive you."
            As a child of God, my sin interferes with my relationship with Him much as my children or grandchildren and I might have something come between us. They remain my offspring throughout. The relationship is mended by confession and asking forgiveness. The same is true in our relationship with the Heavenly Father.
            You can experience His loving forgiveness right now  by admitting your sin to Him and accepting His forgiveness.
The Circuit ‘Riter, Michael Ullrich

Love's Light - 1 John 1:5

    In order for me to get to the office in the church I have to go through some interior passageways. Through one door it is a simple walk down a few stairs, a ninety-degree turn and a few steps. However, that entrance requires a longer walk outside and a few more steps.  If I want to get in quickly and have a light at least for the lock, I take a different door.
    I have an almost fanatical interest in turning the lights off when I am not using an area. My preferred passage doesn't have the luxury of switches on each end of the room. And, rather than run the electricity when I wouldn't be there, I will walk through that area in the dark. Problem is, it sometimes contains unexpected additions. And you never know what they might have moved around!  I have tried, to no avail, to shut the lights off and run to the other end of the room before it got dark!    As physical light is important to a safe walk in a room, Spiritual light  is necessary for a spiritual walk. 1 John 1:5 says, "that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all." Satan brings spiritual darkness and hidden obstacles, which cause us to stumble.
    You can make use of God's light by reading the Scriptures and walking dependent on God's Holy Spirit. A blessing results in that we can better fellowship with one another (v. 7).
    Are you seeking the light today or just walking in darkness? Why not take advantage of God's light.
The Circuit 'Riter, Michael Ullrich