Well, here we are again. I know it has been a while since I last shared with every one who has been so kind to read this blog. I have found that it is not as easy as it appears to formulate thoughts into words that hopefully inspire others along their way. Since we last met, I have experienced first hand the frailty of life. Each day is a gift that is wrapped in life and given to each one to utilize to its fullest. Jesus tells us that He came that we might have life and it more abundantly. Literally, He says, 'life to the fullest.' Now, this begs the question, 'What is life to the fullest?' I have come to believe that it involves several things.
One: Complete surrender. We surrender every day. We either we surrender to our desires or the desires of another. The ultimate surrender is where we yield completely to the will of God. Now, I don't believe in varying wills of God, i.e. perfect or permissible. I have found that God has a will for all, (2 Peter 3:9, Romans 8:29) and for the individual (Matthew 4:19, Ephesians 4:1). Complete surrender is imperative to accomplish one or the other.
Two: Costly Sacrifice. Many people want the perks without the price. While salvation is free, discipleship is costly. Now, I know that God is faithful to His promises to us even when we are not faithful to our promises to Him. Without sacrifice, we never experience true abundance. The price we pay for abundance is small compared to the price Christ paid. We simply give away our desire for glory and the desire to be in control. In Luke 9:23, Jesus said that we must deny ourselves. To many of us, this is a high price to pay because we want it our way more than anything else.
Lastly: Compassionate Service. There are those who serve out of a sense of duty, i.e. "I must do this." You know, the server who brings our food with a scowl. A compassionate server is one who serves because he or she gets to do so. Have you ever considered that God could use anything or anyone He desires to. Yet, He lets you and me be a part of His kingdom's work. Compassion cannot be counterfeited. True compassion speaks from the heart of one to the heart of another.
Now, I know this can sound like a lot of work. Truth is, when we realize how empty our account is and how great God is, then, complete surrender is not frightening, costly sacrifice is not too much to pay and compassionate service is an outflow of His inflow into our lives.
I hope to be able to be more regular i these 'trips' together. I pray that God reveal Himself more fully to each of us. So, until we meet again, remember that Jesus came to give
One: Complete surrender. We surrender every day. We either we surrender to our desires or the desires of another. The ultimate surrender is where we yield completely to the will of God. Now, I don't believe in varying wills of God, i.e. perfect or permissible. I have found that God has a will for all, (2 Peter 3:9, Romans 8:29) and for the individual (Matthew 4:19, Ephesians 4:1). Complete surrender is imperative to accomplish one or the other.
Two: Costly Sacrifice. Many people want the perks without the price. While salvation is free, discipleship is costly. Now, I know that God is faithful to His promises to us even when we are not faithful to our promises to Him. Without sacrifice, we never experience true abundance. The price we pay for abundance is small compared to the price Christ paid. We simply give away our desire for glory and the desire to be in control. In Luke 9:23, Jesus said that we must deny ourselves. To many of us, this is a high price to pay because we want it our way more than anything else.
Lastly: Compassionate Service. There are those who serve out of a sense of duty, i.e. "I must do this." You know, the server who brings our food with a scowl. A compassionate server is one who serves because he or she gets to do so. Have you ever considered that God could use anything or anyone He desires to. Yet, He lets you and me be a part of His kingdom's work. Compassion cannot be counterfeited. True compassion speaks from the heart of one to the heart of another.
Now, I know this can sound like a lot of work. Truth is, when we realize how empty our account is and how great God is, then, complete surrender is not frightening, costly sacrifice is not too much to pay and compassionate service is an outflow of His inflow into our lives.
I hope to be able to be more regular i these 'trips' together. I pray that God reveal Himself more fully to each of us. So, until we meet again, remember that Jesus came to give
