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April 12, 2008
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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
Dead by Midnight?, by Russ Lawson
It's a sobering thought, but what if you knew that your husband or
wife, or son or daughter, or sister or brother, or mother or father, or
best friend or neighbor, were going to be dead by midnight? What would
you do, what would you say, how would your priorities change? Would
your business be less pressing, your and their spiritual condition more
important?
Many of us have been in that situation, where death has come
unexpectedly to someone we love. In fact, death almost always comes
unexpectedly, doesn't it? Not many people die fully prepared for the
occasion. There are always, things to do, people to call, letters to
write, a conversation which needs completed, some last thing which we
wish to accomplish.
I remember one scene in the movie "Pollyanna," where the town minister
is preaching to the congregation and his sermon is "Death Comes
Unexpectedly." He is trying his best to frighten the congregation into
living more spiritual, more pure lives, because they were only a breath
away from Satan claiming them. Think about it, should fear be our
motivation for living right before God? Should fear be our motivation
for working on our relationships?
Og Mandino, the motivational speaker, has said:
Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they were going to
be dead by midnight. Extend to them all the care, kindness and
understanding you can muster, and do with no thought of any reward.
Your life will never be the same again.
Any relationship come to mind?
Jesus said it even more succinctly and powerfully:
Do for others what you would like them to do for you. This is a
summary of all that is taught in the law and the prophets (Mathew
7:12 NLT).
What did Jesus show us about "doing for others" in his life? He loved
us so much, even when we are at our worst. that he was willing to give
his life that we could live with him forever.
Yes, treating others as if you might never get a chance to walk with
them or talk with them or share with them ever again is a good way to
approach life. Not though, because of fear, but because Jesus gave us
the example of what relationships should be. Notice what Jesus
repeatedly said -- these are just two examples he shared shortly before
his death: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved
you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34). "My command is this:
Love each other as I have loved you" (John 15:12).
Dead by midnight? Hmm, any relationship come to mind which you need to
work on? If you take Jesus' approach out of love and not fear, "Your
life will never be the same again."
---------
(c) 2008 Russ Lawson <rlawson@wclo.net>, Messages from the Heart
<http://www.mfth.net/aboutus.html>. All rights reserved.
RELATED LINKS:
* Image of Psalm 49:15 - Redeem My Life
http://www.heartlight.org/powerpoint/2222.html
* Fear of Death
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200303/20030309_death.html
* Now is the Time
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200609/20060901_now.html
* Messages from the Heart
http://www.mfth.net/aboutus.html
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200804/20080412_bymidnight.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
THE PRACTICE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD, by Brother Lawrence
This edition of this timeless devotional classic will help you
cultivate a continual awareness of God in the everyday.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?223
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