Time for Jesus
The sermon emphasizes the importance of making time for Jesus and cultivating a love for Him that sees only Him, lives for Him alone, and responds to His love with a lavish, extravagant love.
In this sermon by Basil E. Shlink, the focus is on the importance of making time for Jesus in our lives. The sermon begins with a hymn expressing the desire to live solely for Jesus and bring comfort to his heart. The speaker emphasizes the concept of 'first love,' a love that is solely directed towards Jesus and leads to serving him wholeheartedly. The sermon shares the story of a schoolteacher who canceled her vacation plans and dedicated her time to Jesus, resulting in a renewed sense of strength and joy. The sermon concludes by urging listeners to respond to Jesus' extravagant love with a lavish love that gives all and never counts the cost.
Full Transcript
God lives and works today, but His life can only be found in people who have time for Him. In today's meditation by Baselie Schlenk, we will be hearing what happened when a school teacher made time for Jesus. Jesus, Lord, to love you only, I shall live for that alone, To your heart some comfort bringing, All your suffering making known.
Lord, I care now for my troubles, Since I've seen your pain and cross, But endeavor to console you, Willingly take up my cross. There is a love for Jesus which the Bible calls first love. This love has eyes and ears for Jesus alone.
This love draws us to Him. It makes our hands quick to serve Him. It uses the most loving words to tell how wonderful He is.
Yes, this love knows only one great joy, and that is Jesus Himself. I know of a school teacher who was looking forward to some weeks of rest and recuperation after an exhausting term. She had planned a vacation in the mountains and was longing for the bracing air and the warm sunshine.
She had already bought her ticket. Everything was arranged with her friends. But then she sensed, Jesus is waiting for me.
He wants my time, all my time. I won't have time for all the activities and get-togethers I've planned. Because she didn't want to let her Lord wait in vain, she canceled all her plans, used the time for quiet and prayer, and gave her vacation money to the Lord.
In these weeks, however, she received more strength, and she returned to her work with greater joy than from any previous vacation. This example portrays something of this love for Jesus, a love that sees only Him, lives for Him alone. If we begin truly to love Jesus, could we think of carefully measuring out our love to Him whose love toward us is beyond measure? Because Jesus loved us, His enemies, so much He paid for it with His life.
There can only be one response to such a love. One must love Him in return with a lavish, extravagant love that gives all, never counting the cost. O make me Thine, my Savior, Lord most holy, that I may only live to give Thee glory.
O make me Thine, O make me Thine. Take all I love and treasure, my life, my honor, if that brings Thee pleasure and shows my love. Yes, make me Thine.
You have been listening to a program written by Basilia Schlink of the Little Land of Canaan. To learn more about how God lives and works today, visit us at our website www.canaan.org. That's K-A-N-A-A-N dot org. If you contact us, we would be happy to send you a free inspirational booklet.
If you do not have access to the web, please write to God Lives and Works Today, 9849 North 40th Street, Phoenix, Arizona, 85028-4099. God bless you.
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Time for Jesus
- Characteristics of First Love for Jesus
- The Response to Jesus' Love
- Loving Him in return with a lavish, extravagant love
- Giving all, never counting the cost
- Using loving words to tell of His wonders
Key Quotes
“Jesus, Lord, to love you only, I shall live for that alone, To your heart some comfort bringing, All your suffering making known.” — Basilea Schlink
“O make me Thine, my Savior, Lord most holy, that I may only live to give Thee glory.” — Basilea Schlink
“Yes, make me Thine.” — Basilea Schlink
Application Points
- Make time for Jesus in your busy life by prioritizing your relationship with Him and canceling plans that get in the way.
- Cultivate a deeper love for Jesus by spending time with Him in quiet and prayer, and by serving Him with a willing heart.
- Respond to Jesus' love with a lavish, extravagant love that gives all, never counting the cost.