JESUS LOVER OF MY SOUL

"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." -- Matthew 10:28

81 Jesus Lover Of My Soul Verses 1, 2, & 3

John 10:4-17

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 "But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13 "The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14 "I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 "As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 "And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. 17 "Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 "No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father."

In John 15:13 Jesus said:

"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.

267 Jesus Loves Me Verses 1 & 3

PRAYER PRAISING THE GREAT LOVE OF JESUS

THE SOUL IS VALUABLE

Both the Greek and Hebrew words for soul are translated life on occasion. This well illustrates the close association of our soul with our life. We have a lot to do with what becomes of our soul. Jesus said:

"For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? -- Matthew 16:25-26

In this sense we can see that the soul endures past this life and as such is valuable to God. In fact our soul and our spirit are only things we have that have any lasting value to God. This body, every bit of it, eventually returns to dust, our soul continues and our spirit returns to God who gave it. (Ecclesiasties 12:7)

Jesus warned:

"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." -- Matthew. 10:28

245 Where The Soul Never Dies Verses 1, 3, & 4

WHAT WE HOLD AS VALUABLE IS REFLECTED IN OUR LIVES

When the rich young ruler came to Jesus, his problem was a familiar one. He was trying to please God without the one absolutely essential element. He needed to put God first in his heart. Instead he served his great riches first and sought justification by checking off the list of requirements. He didn't consider himself a sinner, yet he was. No one., of course, had ever kept the law perfectly and it wasn't that he thought he had done so, but he did keep, or at least observe, the many formalities of the law. He would never serve idols, had great respect for God and as a Jew must be OK. His attitude was typical of the self-righteousness of the time. He had made himself a good person and had made himself, by his personal commitment, one who considered himself worthy of the blessings which the Messiah and his kingdom would bring. He, by his own righteousness, had eliminated, at least in his own mind, his personal need for God. No one except Jesus, kept the law perfectly, each needed God's forgiveness, but the self-righteous Jew of Jesus day did not see it that way. The young ruler's true motivation in life was his riches. He only fooled himself into thinking he was O.K. . Jesus knew, however, what his problem was and no doubt his loving charge to this young man was designed to convict him. Jesus eventually suffered and died because all needed the forgiveness his sacrifice could bring. Every man needs God, because every man, no matter how good he may be or how close he may come, is a sinner.

Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. "You know the commandments: `Do not commit adultery,' `Do not murder,' `Do not steal,' `Do not bear false witness,' `Do not defraud,' `Honor your father and your mother.' " And he answered and said to Him, "Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth." Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Mark 10:17-22 (NKJV)

486 What Shall It Profit? Verses 1, 2, & 3

DO WE CONSIDER OUR SOUL AS VALUABLE OR DO WE SEEK TO ACCUMULATE THINGS OF THIS LIFE?

Many live for the things they want and have in this life. Listen to the parable Jesus told about the man who tore down his barns to build bigger ones:

"The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. "And he thought within himself, saying, `What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?' "So he said, `I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. `And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry." "But God said to him, `Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?' "So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." -- Luke 12:16-21 (NKJV)

There is something more than the accumulation of things and if that is what one lives for there is something wrong. Many wonder, with all that they have, why they are still not happy. How many times do you see a happy person talking about how much they have? On the contrary, people who talk a lot about how much they have are generally unhappy. As Christians we know that the true source of happiness is serving our savior.

492 Something Worth Living For Verses 1 & 2

499 I Want To Be A Worker Verses 1, 2, & 3

PRAYER CONCERNING OUR LIVING FOR JESUS

OUR LIFE AFTER THIS ONE IS THE LIFE THAT IS IMPORTANT, BUT, JESUS CARES GREATLY FOR US AND UNDERSTANDS THE DIFFICULTIES THAT WE HAVE IN THIS LIFE. HE HELPS US SO THAT OUR SOULS ARE NOT DESTROYED.

Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. -- Hebrews 2:14-18

419 Thou Thinkest, Lord, Of Me Verses 1, 2, & 3

Just as Samuel, as recorded in I Samuel chapter seven, at the defeat of the Philistines could set up a stone naming it Ebenezer saying "Thus far the Lord has helped us," we also can raise up our Eberezer daily proclaiming "Thus far the Lord has helped us.

420 O Thou Fount Of Every Blessing Verses 1 & 2

137 Safe In The Arms Of Jesus Verses 1 & 2

"GREATER LOVE HAS NO ONE"

With Jesus words, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." ringing in our ears we realize that the great love of Jesus has covered the span of time for all mankind. Jesus, the Son of God, loved us so much that he gave his life for us that we might have an eternity of happiness with God.

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. -- Romans 5:7-10

385 What Did He Do? Verses 1 & 2

422 Jesus Saves Verses 1, 2, & 4

185 Savior Thy Dying Love Verses 1, 2, & 3

PRAYER OF THANKFULNESS FOR JESUS LOVE TOWARD US

We often sing of our love for Jesus. We realize that our love, as humans, can never be like the great love of God and Jesus; yet, we are so filled with love, gratefulness and happiness that we cannot help but pray, talk and sing about the wonderful love of Jesus.

155 Wonderful Love Of Jesus Verses 1, 2, & 3

25 Wonderful Jesus Verses 1, 2, & 3

INVITATION

But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.-- Romans 6:17-18

If Jesus is not your savior. If you have never accepted his gospel, obeying from the heart by repenting of sin, confessing the Lord Jesus and being baptized for the remission of sin won't you come to Jesus right now.

293 Come To Jesus Today Verses 1, 2, & 3