1 Thessalonians 5:11 (KJV)

Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (KJV)

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

The Personal Cost of Saving Lives

Pocket Devotions

Day 331:

Acts 20:23
"I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me."
 
 

Thoughts for Today:

 
Following are lyrics to The Fray song, How to Save a Life, written by singer/pianist Isaac Slade based on his experiences while working as a mentor at a camp for troubled teenage males:
 
Step one you say we need to talk
He walks you say sit down it's just a talk
He smiles politely back at you
You stare politely right on through
Some sort of window to your right
As he goes left and you stay right
Between the lines of fear and blame
And you begin to wonder why you came

Refrain:
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend?
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
 
Many of us who have lost a family member, friend or loved one can relate to the feelings of frustration, emptiness, and guilt expressed by the songwriter, "Where did I go wrong; Somewhere along in the bitterness; I would have stayed up with you all night; Had I known -- how to save a life."

In our passage today, Paul didn't wonder how to save a life, he knew: Jesus. The only problem was it came with greater and greater personal sacrifice. Many times we feel guilty because of things we know we should have said or done, yet didn't make the effort or take the time to do. Paul's love for the Lord was so great that despite the fact he knew "prison and hardships" awaited him, he continued on. In other words, Paul was fully committed to saving lives even if it meant losing his own.
 
 

Questions to Ponder:

 
Hopefully none of us will ever have to make the choice to sacrifice our life for another; but
 
what about another precious commodity -- time?
 
Why not offer your golf day when a young man in trouble needs some guidance?
 
Or sleep time early in the morning to help a friend work on a marriage problem?
 
You see we all have opportunities to make a difference and save lives every day, if we choose to.
 
Whose life will you save?

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