by David Brenneman
"The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation." 1 Peter 4:7-13.
If indeed you are saved in Christ Jesus by His finished work on the cross of calvary...you've got a purpose in Christ that He's planned since before you were born to be doing to glorify His Name.
The war going on in our world today may be called many things. Then President Bush referred to a war on terror. Others make reference to wars on various ideologies.
Believer's everywhere are at war with the members of their bodies.
We must look within to the battleground of our hearts and minds.
"You are looking at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we." 2 Corinthians 10:7.
But you may say you don't think you've done anything wrong.
"For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord." 1 Corinthians 4:4.
Think that you're the first to mount a defense such as that?
Consider the truth that you and I are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them. Ephesians 2:10.
Consider the following:
"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete." 2 Corinthians 10:3-6.
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12.
"For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it." 1 Corinthians 12:12-27.
There IS a plan and purpose to your life in Christ if indeed you are among the children of God, saved by the blood of Jesus Christ.
The war these days is for our attention. For our desires. For our thoughts. Does any of this reflect in these Scriptures we just read? Certainly does.
Your affiliation with a denomination means nothing. No where in the passage we just read about the Spirit placing us in the body as He sees fit are denominations even a consideration. We are to be in Christ first and foremost of all in everything. We are part of the body of Christ, not part of anything else on Earth.
We are to engage in that which grows us in Christ to become more like Jesus. There's a war to entice us to spend our time, energy and effort on anything but that.
A few minutes here and there add up to a wasted time in our daily life.
Are you committed to living life for Jesus who saved you? Does what your average day show reflect that?
Are you committed to time in the Word? Are you at all praying? Have you done anything to weed out the garden of your heart? Removing things that aren't going to glorify God? Are your attitudes and actions showing yourself and others that Jesus IS that important to you? When you stand before Jesus to give an account of your life...will it show a life spent striving to please Him in all that you did or will it reflect something less honorable?
My Dear Reader...there IS a plan and purpose to your life in this place in human history for you to be doing. Retirement does not exist in God's economy while the breath of life is still in our lungs. Nothing pleases our Lord Jesus Christ more than to be found walking in this life in obedience and the love of God in Christ.
Was reading in a devotional last night and something was said that was absolutely true. We should join Jesus in what He is doing and not do what we think is the best use of our talents according to our plan and then ask God to bless it.
We must remember what we read here today. We are placed in the body of Christ as the Spirit sees fit. Put where He believes and knows we will do the most good for us personally and our part in the mission of God for mankind.
Life isn't about settling goals for ourselves and giving God the glory after it works out. Life is about living the life we've been given however He wants it lived.
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way." Psalms 139:23-24.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.
A corporation not for profit.
La Habra, CA All rights reserved
No comments:
Post a Comment