Have you ever wished that sometimes you could erase some memories? I have, multiple times but then I thought about it and saw that I wouldn't have the opportunities I have to speak the truth out of those memories/experiences. That's one thing God has been showing me. I used to ask Him why I had to go through certain things, life would be so much easier if I could just bypass them all together. He showed me that so often out of our experiences we become equipped with the things necessary to minister to others around us. Our experiences give us the ability to meet people right where they are, to relate with them, to show compassion, mercy, and grace because we really KNOW what they’re going through. It goes back to Revelations 12:11 "we overcome by the blood of the Lamb, the word of our TESTIMONY, loving not our lives even unto death". So whether the experience is good or bad "we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28) so we can "count it all joy when we fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of our faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that we may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing" (James 1:2-4). If we through obedience "by the Spirit put to death the deeds of the flesh/body, we will live" (Rom. 8:13). It all goes back to obedience. Do we love Jesus Christ enough to love Him more? That is the question. But it's not enough to only ponder and debate that question, one must decide and act on it. If we do love Him enough to love Him more than our lives will prove it. We won't "be conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewing of our minds, that we may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Rom. 12:2). To think that we can PROVE the perfect will of God, wow! Why is this generation in the state that it's in? If this is Truth, if this is what the Word says, then why doesn't the "church" believe it? Why are they’re so many who refuse to walk in "the hope of their calling" (Eph 1:18)? Because they don't want Him enough. Do we want Him? He says prove it. Are we willing to tarry, to remain, a little while longer, press in harder? Have sleepless nights to see Him reveal His face? Do we want Him? We say we want revival at all cost but how far are we really willing to go? Will we be found watching and ready or selfish and sleeping?
I've been reading "Real Christianity" by William Wilberforce (the man involved with abolishing the slave trade in England) . It was written in 1797 but I swear it could have been written today. here's a couple quotes:
- "I think it should be enough to point out that all of us have the obligation to do whatever we are able to do to promote the welfare of our fellowman. If you love someone who is ruining his or her life because of faulty thinking and you don't do anything about it because you are afraid of what others might think, it would seem that rather than being loving, you are in fact being heartless."
- "I am disturbed when I see the majority of so-called Christians having such little understanding of the real nature of the faith they profess... Life as we know it, with all its ups and downs, will soon be over. We all will give an accounting to God of how we have lived. Because of this fact, I'm not going to pull any punches in what I write".
- "I fear for the future of authentic faith in our country. We live in a time when the common man in our country is thoroughly influenced by the current climate in which the cultural and educational elite propagates an anti-Christian message."
- "Is it any wonder then that the spiritual condition of our country is of little concern to those who don't even educate their own children about true Christianity? Their conduct reflects their absence of concern, not only for the state of Christianity in our own country, but also for the need to communicate the message of Christ to those in other parts of the world who have not heard."
- "Carefully studying the Bible will reveal to us our own ignorance of these things. It will challenge is to reject a superficial understanding of Christianity and impress on us that it is imperative not to simply be religious or moral, but also to master the Bible intellectually, integrate its principles into our lives morally, and put into action what we have learned practically."
I'm just so thankful for the people God has placed in my life. I wouldn't trade them for anything. I love the true fellowship that is found in the purity of the light. It never fails, God proves Himself again and again and again. I know we've all had those moments of struggling with our will and doing the will of God but, nights like these are a perfect example of how the Body of Christ truly works together, to strengthen and encourage. To get along side each other and keep running. Why? Because we love Jesus more. And because we love Jesus more then we do those things we don't want to do and go to those places we would rather not be. Because we love Jesus more we learn how to trust Him in everything, to simply obey and submit, to love beyond our comfort, to conform to the image of His son, the divine person Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. It's all about Him and His heart. May we learn of Him, take His yoke, and run like never before...may we run this race all the way to completion.
"Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist {and} STAND your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to STAND [firmly in your place]." Ephesians 6:13
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