No Strings Attached

Have you encountered someone who had strings attached to everything they did? They were willing to accommodate you if they could see some profit in it for them. They kept a “ledger sheet” on all their actions to make sure that the outgoing effort had at least an equal return; the debit and credit columns were always equal or showed favor on their side.

One problem with that attitude is that the “equalizers” are always on guard to not give more than they receive. Another problem is that they will most likely take advantage of every situation so that they will, in fact, come out ahead.

We may fail to realize it, but we all have someone like that in our lives; his name is Satan! He is always on the lookout to catch us unaware as he prepares incidents to take advantage of us. His subtle efforts try to create a picture that gives the impression that we will benefit from the scenario he presents to us. It may look innocent; it may seem advantageous to follow the plan that he has made us think came from our own good judgment.

What a delight to have someone who just gives because it is their nature with no expectations in return! We all have friends and family who give and give simply because they receive pleasure themselves from their loving actions toward others.

Even if we feel unloved and unappreciated, we do indeed have such a friend! At all times! The only strings attached are cords of unconditional love!

“A friend loveth at all times…” (Proverbs 17:17). “…and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24).

Do we need proof? We only have to look at the cross on which Jesus died to convince us that no one has ever loved us that much nor given us so much of themselves. You see, Jesus held nothing back; He gave the ultimate—His life, for one reason—Love! “All have sinned…” (Romans 3:23) and stand guilty, condemned before God. Within ourselves we have no means by which we can escape the penalty of death, not just dying as in our breathing stopping; but eternal separation from the loving God who desires our redemption.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son…” (John 3:16)

It is a great mystery why anyone would reject and resist such love! If we were in the path of mortal danger and someone rescued us, we would be forever grateful to the one who risked their life to save ours, wouldn’t we? God’s plan sent Jesus to save us from the eternal pangs of hell from which there is no return. The ledger is grossly unbalanced: Our side shows we are guilty and deserve to suffer sin’s penalty. “The wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23). We don’t have the means of settling the debt, nor is there anyone we can call on to borrow enough to rescue us.

But, wait! Jesus says, “Stay the execution! I have deposited payment in full for this poor, wretched soul."

Jesus paid the debt in full; the ledger is in balance. There are no strings attached except the Cords of Love that have bound us to our loving Heavenly Father who acknowledges that the debt has been paid by the precious blood that Jesus shed on Calvary and washed us from every trace of sin; no sin was too horrendous to remain on the debit side. Our “Balance Due” is $0.00 ! We are debt free!

We now have the potential to reach out to others, who are bound by the chains of sin and in danger of hell, with the love implanted in us by the Author of Love. We can accomplish that freely “with no strings attached” except Cords of Love.

“Freely you have received, freely give…” (Matthew 10:8).

Let us throw out that lifeline without delay. Someone needs a rescue.

Hurry, time is running out!

~~Delores~~

Music:

Origin and Author of

"I Have Decided to Follow Jesus"

In the 1880’s, there was a missionary from the United Kingdom serving in India who endured severe persecution. After years of sacrifice, he finally saw his first salvations in a very brutal village.

A husband and wife, with their two children, professed faith in Jesus Christ and were baptized. The village leaders decided to make an example out of the husband. Arresting the family, they demanded that the father renounce Christ, or see his wife and children murdered.

When he refused, his two children were executed by archers. Given another chance to recant, the man again refused, and his wife was stuck down in the same way. Still refusing to recant, the man followed his family into glory.

Witnesses later told the story to the missionary. The reports said that when asked to recant or see his children murdered, the man said: “I have decided to follow Jesus, and there is no turning back.”

After seeing his children killed, he reportedly said, “The world can be behind me, but the cross is still before me.” And after seeing his wife pierced by the arrows, he said, “Though no one is here to go with me, still I will follow Jesus.”

When the missionary returned to the village, a revival had broken out, and those that had murdered the first converts had come to faith in Jesus themselves. An Evangelist heard this story, and took the martyr’s last words, and put them to music.

In this song, the word “decided” has a once-for-all commitment attached to it; a commitment that the author knew would lead to imminent death.

I have decided to follow Jesus,

No turning back, no turning back.

Verse 2: Though I may wonder, I still will follow

Verse 3: The world behind me, the cross before me.

Verse 4: Though none go with me, still I will follow.

Verse 5: Will you decide now to follow Jesus?

..No turning back, no burning back..

.........S. Sundar Singh