Do we proclaim the mystery of the gospel of Jesus to those who would hear? Do we ask those around us to pray for us so that we will have the right words to speak when we do? We wear the armor of God, and the last article described by Paul is the sword, which is prayer in the spirit, but do we ask others to wield that sword for us so that we will receive the words to speak, and do we swing it into action for other disciples as well?
To be judged worthy of a seat at God’s table requires our best, and greatest effort. No small amount of love will win this prize for us; only when we love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength can we receive His pleasure. You see, our God gave us His best, His only begotten Son, and He expects our best response in return.
We run races for exercise, and keep our bodies fit by eating well, and doing those things that are good for us, so that by doing this we might add a few short years to our lives, but when we do spiritual exercises in which our belief is helped, and our faith is strengthened, then we add all of eternity to our lives. The question becomes; which is of more value to us, our godliness, or bodily training?
Has God ever sent you to do His bidding? Did it require that you face a fear that terrifies you, sacrifice something of yourself, or give up your pride by becoming humble before the world as you know it? Occasionally God sends us on a mission that lifts us up, and brings reward and honor to us, but most times we are meant to sacrifice ourselves... or to lay something of down that we have valued.
As true believers in Christ, are we prepared to not only live forever, but to live as the children of God? Can we even imagine the joy that will spring forth as God pours His love out upon us as His sons and daughters? In that moment it will be announced that we have received Jesus as our savior, and the Holy Spirit as our comforter, but even more, that we have overcome sin and death through Jesus. We will then receive what we had only dared to hope for... our acceptance as the children of God.
Do we wave the banner of Christ, and contend for our faith on this spiritual battlefield where we find ourselves engaged? Do we recognize the enemies of our faith that have crept in and are now coming against us? If we are not careful, and don’t enter into the ongoing battle dressed in the full armor of God we may find our souls defeated, and enslaved.
Are we enamored with the pomp and circumstance within our church? Do we make the liturgy we follow more important than the Word of God, or the gospel of Jesus Christ? Sometimes we lose sight of who we really worship as the procession of priests enters the sanctuary, the elements of communion are doled out as if they were a reward, or in some churches, the choir and performers become the focal point of the service. Let’s step back from what we have “always done”, and refocus our praise and worship on God and Jesus alone.
We might be suffering physically right now in this time of pandemic, but even as our bodies are being wracked, and caused to feel great pain, God is using our bodily trials to bring about great spiritual growth in us. In this time of intense suffering, and while Satan attempts to destroy our hope, our souls are calling out to God for deliverance. Can you feel a renewal of faith welling up within you?
Are we of one heart and mind concerning Jesus, or do we argue about his teaching, and what He commands us to do in His gospel? As we look about the Christian world today do we see a robust house... a nation of believers who speaks with one voice, and worships in accord with one another? Or, do we see a house divided... set against itself, and that twists God’s Word to make its own points seem true?
We can sin in so many ways, but none as easily, and completely as by the sins of our flesh. These sins are so natural to us, and fit closely with similar inclinations that we have received as gifts from God. It is in this way that we can find ourselves fooled by Satan, and caught up in them. The desire to make love to your spouse is a close cousin to your sinful desire to commit adultery. The need to protect your family isn’t too far removed from such things as jealousy, fits of anger, or even murder. We walk a fine line when it comes to our flesh, and that line is no broader than the width of our faith.
How do we recognize things we have never known? We know love when we see it, because we have felt it, and have watched it in action. We know good things when we see them too because we taste them, feel them, and witness the mercy and grace that they exude, but how is it that we have come to recognize evil? Where did our understanding of evil come from? I would like to think we know it because we have seen it in the world, being perpetuated by the unrighteous, but scripture tells us it comes from our heart... it wells up from within us.
We must be careful in doing those things we think that God would have us do. So often we go about the job of accomplishing what we think is God’s will for us when it is actually our own contrived desire, and not His at all. Be cautious friends so that before it is time for us to take action we have thoroughly sought out, and understood, what it is that He expects of us... His will.
We desire to be men and women of faith, but are we actually focused on our wealth and means instead? Do we open our eyes in the morning and call out to a servant “Bring me my coffee and bread”? Do we sit down with a newspaper and begin our day by studying the world, and how we will increase our earthly treasure? O brothers and sisters, if we were more like the poor who open their eyes and say “Thank you Father for this day”, and “Lord, how might I serve you better?” In considering this, do we find that we worship mammon over God, or at very least do we pursue our wealth on an even plane with God?
Are we looked down on, or ridiculed for the devout manner in which we pursue our faith? Do we live in an area of the world where those of another faith seek to harm us, or destroy our homes and places of worship? Well, receiving death threats, and being persecuted for our faith, is nothing new. As we face such hardships we must strengthen ourselves by remembering how Jesus endured greater suffering than this for us.
How do we judge the success of our lives? If we are like the secular people who surround us then it would be by the money we have accumulated, the size of our homes, and perhaps the number of children we have, or the power we wield over those who we employee. Do we as Christians covet what those who live only in the world call wealth? Are we working long hours to live a few short years in luxury, only to lose it all in the moment of our death?