You Can't Do Until You Are And You Can't Be Except By Faith

"Preach the word!" —2 Timothy 4:2

“Even the natural heart of the unsaved will serve if called upon to do so, but it takes a heart broken by conviction of sin, baptized by the Holy Spirit, and crushed into submission to God’s purpose to make a person’s life a holy example of God’s message. The purpose of Pentecost was not to teach the disciples something, but to make them the incarnation of what they preached so that they would literally become God’s message in the flesh. “…you shall be witnesses to Me…” (Acts 1:8).” - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest 

Our duty is to be a message of hope to the world.  That means that our lives must be remarkably different from that of those who are bound for hell.  Unfortunately for many Christians, that is not the case. For many who call Jesus, Lord, watching them and listening to them you can hardly distinguish them from the rest of the world. Would someone be surprised to know you are a Christian?  What does a Christian look like?  They look like Jesus.  Why do they look like Jesus?  Because they are yielded to the Spirit, their joy is walking by the Spirit, not because they are trying hard to manage their sin, and put on good appearances.  Being a message to the world is a result of a relationship not of personal effort.  What is it that you still cling to from your old nature that hides the light of Christ in you?  Can people tell you are different by the way you talk or do profane words roll off of your tongue easily.  Can people tell you are different by the way you treat others? Are you “patient, kind? Don’t envy, don’t boast, are not proud? You don’t dishonor others, you are not self-seeking, you are not easily angered, do you not keep a record of wrongs? Do you not delight in evil but rejoice with the truth. Do you  always protect, always trust, always hope, always persevere? (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

In other words do you live and love like Jesus?  Are you one with the Father?  Have you tried to be right, to live right, but found it too difficult? Your trying was actually your problem.  You can’t do until you are and then it’s not you it’s the Spirit of God in you.  Ephesians 2:8,9 says that we are saved by grace through faith and not of works.  (Galatians 3:11) “Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.””  Galatians 2:20 says that the live we now live we live by faith in the Son of God.  And as you do, your light begins to shine before men.  The way your life lifts Jesus up. (John 12:32) “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” Jesus was referring to the cross and salvation through His sacrifice and so should we.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone