“I am already being poured out as a drink offering
. . .” —2 Timothy 4:6
‘Are you ready to be poured out as an offering? It
is an act of your will, not your emotions. Tell God you are ready to be offered
as a sacrifice for Him. Then accept the consequences as they come, without any
complaints, in spite of what God may send your way. God sends you through a
crisis in private, where no other person can help you. From the outside your
life may appear to be the same, but the difference is taking place in your will.
Once you have experienced the crisis in your will, you will take no thought of
the cost when it begins to affect you externally. If you don’t deal with God on
the level of your will first, the result will be only to arouse sympathy for
yourself.’ CHAMBERS
When you think of the Christian life, what images
come to your mind? Do you ever see
yourself bound to an altar as a sacrifice to God? No, probably not. But spiritually, that is the life we have
been called to. Practically, it takes on
the appearance of separating yourself from your affection for the things of
this world. It looks like a willingness
to endure scorn, rejection, loss, separation … for the glory of God and the
advancement of the kingdom of God.
Just yesterday, a friend sent an email to me about
two Air Force pilots during 9-11 that were ready to lay their lives down in
response to that crisis. I told him that when you are in the military, you
accept the possibility of that eventuality as a given. As a service member, you
are essentially signing up to do that very thing … if asked, to give your life
for your country and its people. In the
same way, as Christians, God has asked us to lay our lives down for Him, His
kingdom and others … Romans 12:1-2
… John 15:13
… Paul compared the Christian life to that of a soldier. Are you ready? Are you committed? Living this
life … laying your life down in this way is not just a matter of your making a
decision … it is a matter of obedience which springs from faith and trust in
God.
Bondye
Beni Ou (God Bless You
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