25 December 2022
Matthew 1:21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
There are many things in this world that people try to imitate. I think you get the idea without me having to describe what some of those things might be. The Israelites expected the Messiah to come as a mighty warrior to rescue them. But instead, Jesus came to earth and identified himself as an innocent lamb that would save his people from their sin. God gives us many examples of things we should imitate in his creation. As a matter of fact, the Bible tells us that all are without excuse, because God can be seen throughout his creation. To me, the most powerful example, besides Jesus, that has helped to mold me into the person I am today, is the example set by the genuine love and affection displayed by God’s creatures, and the people who have an affinity for their care and protection. Many years ago, before we were Christians, my wife and I had the profound privilege of getting to know a family who were big animal lovers. I will not go into all the details, but my wife and I learned more from them, about how to be loving and caring individuals, not only to animals, but also to our fellow man, than we would ever learn later from fellow Christians. I don’t know what their religious affiliation was then, nor do I know what it is now, but this family epitomized what is written in John 13:34–35, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” I am so grateful to God that he placed this family in our path when he did, who taught us so much about how to live our lives in accordance with the greatest two commands in the Bible, Matthew 22:37-39, Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Many things have changed over the years, my wife and I have changed, but I believe that my wife and are much better people today, because of the example this family set for us to imitate. We will never forget this family and they will forever have a place in our heart, for like it says in Colossians 3:14, “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” It is love that binds us all to God, his creatures and one another.” Praise the holy name of Jesus!
Love That Binds
As I reflect back over the years,
I am struck by the lessons I have learned.
God was with me through thick and thin,
And every direction that I turned.
I remember the day Christ saved my soul,
Such joy I thought my heart would burst.
I chose to love the living God,
Because my God loved me first.
I remember when my wife was ill,
I called out to the Lord with every breath.
God was with us and walked us through,
The valley of the shadow of death.
I remember the day my mother cried,
As she watched them bury her oldest son.
She cried out to God and raised her hands,
Praising Jesus for the victory that He won.
God has been faithful through the years,
He makes my life worth living.
Though heartache and trials may come my way,
By His grace I’ll keep on giving.
Ethan W. Moses