We arrive before Jesus, happy, elated, driven to praise! Then at the judgment, many point to Christians and say, “They never told us”.
Now we know the Father will respond, “You never asked”. But what happens to our elation, when we realize we could have made the difference for so many?
The Lord continually teaches me to minimize regret. How can I help my brothers to do the same?
Why do we fear? Why are we shy with the truth of God? Is it possible, I think no one notices?
By His Grace
Can one man make a difference for Christ? Do worms eat dirt?
Through the actions of one man, Adam, all humanity was condemned to die.
Through the actions of one man, Christ, all humanity is offered eternal life.
I started to write this and remembered all the leaders God has raised up. But the intended audience for this post is not in such a position as they. And the provocation for this post was a tiny man in a tiny place.
_____________________
I sat in the driver seat of my truck facing the sunrise,
The pathetic body
as almost 200 people passed by the front of my truck to go to work, I kept myself busy with reading.
Did anyone notice? That’s not my call to make. I offered the opportunity of “Sonrise” to everyone who passed.
One slice of time in one day. And everywhere I go, the message is brought.
Underneath the hat, lay a Christian spy. Everywhere he goes, he searches for weakness in the enemy camp. Can something be done? Can something be said? What can I do to allow the Gospel to infiltrate the domain of wickedness?
The parking lot
It is not reasonable to assume that everyone who dismounted from those cars is strong in Christ. There are about 150 cars there. Statistically speaking, 1% of those who passed by might have understood the visible message. (I’ll round it off. I don’t think there was a “half” person who pass by my truck). Two people might have been influenced by the display.
I’m making a fool of myself by showing how I strive to serve the Gospel. But I’m trying to make a difference here. I’m trying to inspire others to do similar things.
I have found that most Christians are terrified to testify for Christ verbally. The human body is not just a set of lips. And the ingenuity of man is proven. If a Christian wants to testify, he can find a way.
I will end this post with a rather sobering thought.
Try to envision your appearance before the Holy One. What will be said of you if you died today? Are you striving to further the cause of Christ, regardless how great or small the effort? Or are you letting fear shove you into a dark corner?
We will all stand shoulder to shoulder with those who were beheaded for Christ. Those who were torn apart by the rack will be there too. Those whose bodies were ripped apart by lions will stand there with us. Many had been imprisoned for years, for the very name of the Lord Jesus. Perfected souls of mutilated bodies for the sake of their love to Christ. And shall we appear empty handed? Can you possibly imagine the shame of having hid the beautiful message of salvation because of fear?
Let us go and die with him! For if we die with him, He has promised we shall surely live with him.
And if by chance, you need further inspiration , read what is said in Revelation 21:
“But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars–they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
I have no strength to inspire you more powerfully.
By His Grace
Companies are not ruled by insane men. They create a product for the sake of making money. For instance, they don’t make diapers just so they can store them in a warehouse. No, they find the parents of poopy babies and advertise their product to them.
No automaker makes cars just so he can warehouse them in some underground bunker. They selectively advertise their products so they can sell it. They’re in business to make money folks!
The church is set aside to serve the Living God in the manner of saving souls. To speak in the vulgarity of man, the church is a business. The machinery is the people of God. The output is called godly transformation. Evangelism: the advertising campaign designed to bring in profit.
But isn’t the church so unlike the reasonable men of the world? For only in the Christian Church do you see the warehousing of product with no intent to sell!
You know what the problem is? You don’t believe in your product.
I’ll leave this to stew in your mind.
By His Grace
Why do you protect your family? Why do you work so hard to earn a living? Why do you go to church? Why do you read the Bible? Why do you study devotions? Why do you pray? Why do you speak the name of Christ?
Are all these things only for show? Or are they so that you can become as devoted to the Living God’s Christ as are the Holy Angels?
When you have done these things for years, have they produced a holy man? Or have you found yourself only becoming a socially acceptable Christian?
What is the fullness that God desires in all his people? What does that look like? Can you point to someone and say, “That is it”? Can anyone point to you and say the same thing?
It is like men to pursue a dream, only to find a place where they are comfortable. What about death to all the things in this world? Does that sound comfortable to you? What about a beating by the hands of men because you have spoken the Gospel in their presence? How many friends have abandoned you because you love God? What about a burning willingness to obey God’s command, regardless the outcome? Does that apply to you?
I ask this many questions, because you are the only one who can answer them for yourself. I do not command anyone to do anything. But I have an obligation to ask my brothers these things. And they distinctly apply to me also. And why would anyone not ask his brother at these things?
Who will shake the world for Christ? Will it be you? Who will cower in a corner, amassing all kinds of peace and luxury. Will that be you?
By His Grace
This morning I took a “spiritual gifts” test. It’s been some decades since I took such a test. I don’t know what I found out the last time I took one.
I wasn’t too surprised to see the outcome. Here’s the page for the test I took: http://www.spiritualgiftstest.com/test/adult
I’m going to display the results here so that those who read the things I write might better understand the intent and gifts God has seen fit to place within me.
I don’t know how accurate such a test can be. And I’m not sure what value they might be to others.
| Administration 12 |
| Discernment 23 |
| Evangelism 22 |
| Exhortation 25 |
| Faith 35 |
| Giving 13 |
| Serving / Ministering 20 |
| Knowledge 27 |
| Leadership 22 |
| Mercy 6 |
| Prophecy 26 |
| Pastor 23 |
| Teacher 29 |
| Wisdom 17 |
The day I was born, the day I graduated high school, the days I spent drunk as a youth, the day I accepted Christ Jesus, and every other significant day of my life.
On the days I thought important things happened to me, millions of others experienced their own significant occurrences. Not a single one of them saw the days I saw. Yet time moved forward for us all. The calendar chimed in unison. But the entirety of humanity saw a richly variegated symphony of experiences.
There is one significant occurrence that should happen to all men. Every man should be able to say he has accepted Christ Jesus as his Lord. This is the only common thread we can share for eternity. How that comes to be is also a richly variegated symphony of experiences.
Now I try to preach about Jesus everywhere I go. But as I think of the differences with which we all encounter each day, I am struck to remember to let the Lord Jesus speak on his own behalf.
Who could possibly imagine a single canned gospel delivery for every man? Each delivery must be tailor-made for the ears that hear it. What man can possibly do that?
If you plan beforehand what you will say as you testify about Christ, the chances of profitable delivery are significantly diminished. Bottom line, if we don’t let the Holy Spirit do the will of Christ Jesus in us, we restrict the ears of those who might hear.
Though I cannot condemn the use of gospel tracts, or what is called the Roman Road, it is not wise to dictate what God will say. Those can only be useful examples.
All the same I suppose it is better to testify than to keep your mouth shut. Yet to give free rein to God’s lordship over our testimony is best.
I understand how organized testimonies can help those with a weak faith. But even as the child grows adept at adult things, I think it is quite possible to overcome fear of delivery.
I have no idea who may benefit from this message. But I know that the Spirit of God does not dress us in timidity or fear. True belief in the power of God within us ought to be visible in a boldness, and Godly wisdom.
While it is true that each of us stands before Christ on our own, it is also true that our opportunity to testify to any one man, may be the slightest of opportunity. And so we are encouraged to make the most of the situation.
Who can say how God will lead them in any one place. But let us try to lay aside prepared commercials for the Holy Lord’s testimony.
By His Grace
We: Live, Die, Face Judgment. Jesus or die twice.
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