The Discipline of Laying Down of Life:
John 10:11-18; Esther 4:1-16; 2 Timothy 4:5-8; 1 John 3:16
I am the GOOD SHEPHERD: the good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep. But he that is a hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine. As the Father knoweth Me, even so know I the Father: and I LAY DOWN MY LIFE for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one Shepherd. Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I LAY DOWN MY LIFE, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of My Father.
When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai RENT HIS CLOTHES, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry; and came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth...Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was. So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king's gate. And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them. Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people. And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai. Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai; all the kings' servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days. And they told to Mordecai Esther's words. Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself thou thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
As for you, Timothy, be calm and cool and study, accept and suffer unflinchingly every hardship, do the work of an evangelist; fully perform all the duties of your ministry. For I am already about to be sacrificed - my life is about to be poured out [as a drink offering]; the time of my spirit's release [from the body] is at hand and I will soon go free. I have fought the good (worthy, honorable and noble) fight; I have finished the race; I have kept (firmly held) the faith. (As to what remains,) henceforth there is laid up for me the [victor's] crown of righteousness - for being right with God and doing right - which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me and recompense me on that [great] day; and not to me only but also to all those who have loved and yearned for the welcomed His appearing [His return].
~T. Austin-Sparks~
(continued with # 10 - (The Discipline of Thankfulness Unto the Lord)
No comments:
Post a Comment