2002-09-19
Good Morning Faithful Ones,
There is a point in each person's life where he must be ready to make certain commitments. Naturally, the first ones that come to mind are marriage (the commitment to one person for life) and to some kind of occupation, including whatever education is required to do that job. But, when these commitments are made without careful forethought, they can go awry. That is why we see the breakdown of the family unit through divorce so often and people switching from one occupation to another, never seeming to find the one that lights their fire. Sadly, the same thing can happen with regard to faith when a person places blocks between himself and God. Satan loves this and feeds on it. He encourages it, because he knows that once a person comes to true faith, he will be relegated to the background and less able to do his dirty work in that person's life. God is well aware of this struggle that goes on between mankind and the enemy, even to the point of announcing it in GN 3: 15, the Protevangelium. EPH 6: 15 is one essential part of putting on God's full armor. EPH 6: 14-15, "So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight around your waist, with righteousness as your breastplate, and as your shoes the readiness to announce the Good News of peace." In other words, put on your "Gospel shoes."
From first hand experience, I can attest to the fact that one's life lacks direction and fulfillment without making carefully considered commitments. There are two kinds of people in this world, observers and participants. The former never know the richness and fulfillment that life has to offer. The latter are sometimes needing to be risk takers, but if their risks are carefully (and may I say prayerfully) considered, the reward is great. Having faith is a kind of risk taking in and of itself. One can see this in the definition of faith given in HE 11: 1, "To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see." We can't see God right now, but we know He exists through our faith. We are promised that if we endure in faith, we will inherit the Kingdom as joint-heirs with Christ [RO 8 :17], even through we don't hold a signed contract in our hand. God has invited us to join Him in His work, and part of that invitation is to overcome whatever blocks Satan has put in our path, shoving them aside, so that we can follow Paul's example and boldly proclaim the truth of the Gospel to others. That is why Paul called himself, "A servant of Christ, set apart by God for the Gospel" in RO 1: 1. He was not ashamed of it, and neither should we be.
RO 10: 15 bears repeating as it asks, "And how can the message be proclaimed if the messengers are not sent out? As the Scripture [IS 52: 7] says, 'How wonderful is the coming of the messengers who bring the Good News!'" The world is an evil place, with trouble found at every turn. Satan works hard to make it this way. But, the message of salvation from all this misery is indeed the Good News of peace. We need to commit to joining God in the work of spreading this message to all who need to hear it and will listen. How can we do this? We must be prepared through daily time in the word, an active two-way prayer life, a lifestyle of building faith in oneself and others, learning from our circumstances, seeking God often, and looking for God's hand at every turn enabling ourselves to see Him at work in our life and those of others. Yes, Dear Ones, our commitment to witnessing to the truth of the Gospel does sometimes involve sticking our necks out, but it's a commitment that can really make a good difference for ourselves and for others.
There are many ways that we can put on our "Gospel shoes." The example we set by how we live our lives is the first way. We should be producing the kind of spiritual fruit that is mentioned in GA 5: 22-23, "But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. There is no law against such things as these." Producing this fruit of the Spirit comes directly from obeying and trusting God in thought and action. A large part of this is loving one another and God as Christ prescribed in JN 13: 34-35. But, there is more. In addition to the way we live our lives, we must be willing to put our necks out to share the Gospel message of salvation and peace with those of little faith, those who have no faith, and/or those who have never heard it. We don't like to move from where we are comfortable, but God asks us to do that and do it with joy in our hearts. I am personally awed by brave people who go do missionary work in unfriendly, uncomfortable places. God gives them the gift of being able to do this with faithful enthusiasm. The missions don't always have to be in far away places or for long periods, although sometimes they are. By their willingness to roll up their sleeves, as a recently returned group from Venezuela who belong to our congregation did, they bring the Gospel to people steeped in long practiced occult beliefs. This group from our congregation helped build a church and did other much needed work for the people they served in Venezuela. They won't soon be forgotten. One of the most effective ways we can put on our "Gospel shoes" is to be willing to speak about our faith with others we meet who are willing to listen who have not made the commitment to Christ. We should each examine our own lives to see how willing to share what we believe we have been and whether we are willing to be in the future.
PRAYER: O Lord, Moses asked God a key question in EX 33: 15-16, "If You do not go with us, do not make us leave this place. How will anyone know that You are pleased with Your people and with me if You do not go with us? Your presence with us will distinguish us from any other people on earth." Your presence in our lives really is our ultimate identity. While Moses was talking about leaving where he and the other Jews were at the time, we can say it foreshadowed wherever we are in our walk with You. We can't further that walk without You, Dearest Abba, because You guide, correct, encourage, and have patience for us. You have raised up men like Queen Esther's cousin, Mordecai, and Daniel, who refused to bow down to other gods, as an example for us to know what You demand of us in EX 20: 3-5. You command that we worship no other gods. The example of Mordecai and Daniel are witnesses to us of their faithfulness and belief in Your teachings, the same faith You want us to have. Today, our prayer from our hearts is the words of PS 51: 10-13, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and put a new and loyal spirit in me. Do not banish me from Your presence; do not take Your Holy Spirit away from me. Give me again the joy that comes from Your salvation, and make me willing to obey You. Then I will teach sinners Your commands, and they will turn back to You." We add to that the words of PS 70:4, "May all who come to You be glad and joyful. May all who are thankful for Your salvation always say, 'How great is God!'" Dearest Abba, please give us the courage and self-discipline to be willing to witness to our faith in You to others. Help us to be sensitive to how we should best do this to meet their needs and not disrespect them. We want to make true PS 96: 2-3, "Sing to the Lord, and praise Him! Proclaim every day the Good News that He has saved us. Proclaim His glory to the nations, His mighty acts to all peoples." We humbly confess our sin and pledge You our adoration, worship, loyalty, diligence, trust, obedience, glory, honor, praise, and thanksgiving. In Christ's name, amen.
Tomorrow, I am led to share some illuminating citations on the subject of putting on one's "Gospel shoes." God has quite a bit to say about our readiness to proclaim the Good News, a subject dear to His heart. At the very basis of God's command that we should share the Gospel is His love for mankind. We are His creation, a creation in His image. When He sees people headed for death and destruction at Satan's hand, He is grieved. Yes, God has a heart, a very tender heart. Otherwise, He couldn't feel as He does. We, as His servants and friends, have been asked to help Him lead those people in whom Satan is gaining a stronghold back to where the Holy Spirit can bring them to faith in Christ. As Christ's words in JN 14: 6, tell us, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except by Me." What greater motivation than that do we need to come to the task and witness to our faith? Our God loves each and every one of us and needs our help. Peter and I send you our love too.
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn