Each of us, who worship the Lord Jesus, must seek out the truth.  We seek the truth of the Father that He has revealed in His Son Jesus.  And we seek out the truth of our standing in His kingdom, both in heaven and on earth.  All this seeking begins in faith and ends in faith.  This faith we own begins as a granting of God’s grace to us that we might believe in the name of His Holy Son.  But as we mature in that seed of faith the Father grants, we enter certain understandings. As we grow in the knowledge of our Lord we perceive that we are able to accomplish certain things according to the place we hold among men.

The question is presented to us, even at the first glimmer of our granted faith; “Who are we in the kingdom of Heaven under the Lordship of Jesus, and what is the limit of blessing the Lord is willing to grant us that we might serve Him in the redemption of souls from this place of testing?”

It is no sin to desire to serve the Lord.  Regardless our history, regardless our past willingness to obey His Lovely Commands, regardless our

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hypocrisy, fellowship with sin and wickedness of this world, it is not a sin to desire to serve Him.  It is a sin to remain in rebellion to the receiving of the things He stands willing to give His people.  But it can also become a sin to allow yourself to expect that which you are not worthy to bear.

Many assume that they are pronounced as important in the Kingdom of Heaven.  Their assumption can easily be proven false by the fruit they are able to bear.  Some resort to lies, which their wicked hearts make up from their evil desire to be important.  Others proclaim what is true with an authority that they do not own.  And some, sadly, turn away from seeking the fullness of His blessings because they do not believe the Gospel of peace sent from He who cannot lie.

We are cautioned to consider ourselves with sobriety.  And it is not possible to say that with the proper urgency and power of words.  We serve the Living God through Jesus.  We have not come to a man who dispenses the riches of the world as he desires.  God is not a man that He can be manipulated to granting our personal desires, yet so many live as if this were true.

Consider carefully what it is you are asking for.  Consider carefully who you are, who your history has proven you to be.  Are you a man of integrity?  Does your heart allow you to bear the full responsibility of a position in Christ Jesus’ kingdom?  At the same time, let us also consider what we have left in the hand of the Lord.  What has He been willing to give that we have not even asked to receive?  Is your heart clean?  Have you led a life before men that is able to stand up before their prying eyes of hatred?  Are you able to bear the full responsibility of a position in Christ Jesus’ kingdom, but have decided not to receive it?  Have you rejected this position out of a fear of men?  Where is your faith?

Both men, he who is not able and he who is able, sin before the Lord in differing ways.  The first robs the Lord of Glory because he asks for something selfish and that without understanding. This one perceives the Most High God as a simple dispensing machine.  The second robs the Lord of Glory because he fails to ask the Lord for the very things the Lord has been willing to give him for years.  And both rob the people of the Lord at the very time when they needed truth and integrity the most.

Please consider these words carefully.  Let us bring the Lord a bountiful store of gifts on the day of His appearing.  Let each of us seek to serve Him to the fullness of His intent.  And let each of us aspire to that which is holy, lest we fail to grasp the fullness of the life He has granted by the freedom to do what is good.  Remember what our Lord has said, “He who would save his life will lose it.”  Seek what is good; both the restraint of selfish desires, and the sacrifice of life that the Lord commands.