‘If I am a friend of Jesus, I must deliberately and carefully
lay down my life for Him (John
15:13). It is a difficult thing to do, and thank God that it is. Salvation
is easy for us, because it cost God so much. But the exhibiting of salvation in my life is difficult. God saves a
person, fills him with the Holy Spirit, and then says, in effect, “Now you work
it out in your life, and be faithful to Me, even though the nature of
everything around you is to cause you to be unfaithful.” And Jesus says to us,
“. . . I have called you friends. . . .” Remain faithful to your Friend, and
remember that His honor is at stake in your bodily life’ CHAMBERS.
Have you found that to be true in your life? Have you found that becoming a Christian was
easy … well in the sense that it was a decision of faith .. but living the life
of a Christian is not so easy … I am not talking about going to church …
although some people do find that difficult … but reflecting the character of
Christ …. In what we do, what we say, what we think…. Every day … It requires
the discipline of a soldier (2
Timothy 2:3-4) … or an athlete … they are able to do what they do because they
train .. practice … individually and together … together is the part that we
forget sometimes …. there is only one Rambo … but then … that was a movie wasn’t
it? Scripted, choreographed, made to
look real, but it wasn’t. In my mind, there
is only one true hero, that would be Jesus. He defeated death and hell …
I guess the point is that we should not be surprised
that our new life is difficult … it requires us to use resources within us that
we are not used to depending upon … the Holy Spirit, God’s Word and faith. The result of that is action … application …
most preachers have main points in their sermons … the alliterate .. use words
that start with the same letter … tell you how many points they have …
typically three …. But many tell you not just the ‘what’ but the ‘so-what’. How we are to apply the truth they share to
our lives … It is not just about being a Christian but living the life of a
Christian. That doesn’t mean merely
looking like a Christian … the Bible is replete (that is word you don’t hear
much anymore) with admonishments to do and not merely say ….. James
1:22 … be doers and not hearers only… James
2:15-16 Don’t just pray for someone .. if you can help them .. help them … That
is giving them what they need, not what they want … Do you remember Peter and
John at the Temple gate? They told the
beggar that they didn’t have any money … ‘pa gen kob’ .. in Creole .. I have no
money … but Peter said ‘What I do have I give you .. rise up and walk … (Acts
3:6-8)
Don’t be discouraged by the difficult journey … it’s
the lack of natural ability to live your new life that is the source of that
discouragement .. but it is the super-natural ability that God has given you
that you must tap into .. trust in .. walk in .. love in .. and so bring glory
to the Father and a light to this dark world …
Bondye
Beni Ou (God Bless You)
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