This
week, Michael writes: As men and women of God we claim to be people of faith,
but we all deal with fear. Even though the holy Word of God says that with
Him all things are possible to them that
believe, when we rely on our own ability we will sink in the “Seas of Life”. Paul,
when he had finished his missionary journey said in 2 Timothy 4:7-8, “I have fought a good fight, I have
finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up
for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall
give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his
appearing.” Paul's life story was a witness and a testimony to his “living”
Lord.
Despite
the trials and tribulations, when Paul, figuratively and literally, fell, he
rose to the occasion to fight the good
fight and finish the race by faith. As John the Baptist said, the purpose for our lives is that we may
decrease so that Jesus Christ may increase. According to evangelist
and teacher Oswald Chambers, when we become "insidiously preoccupied with self," we need to come to the
realization that as Paul said, "In
me dwelleth no good thing. However, thy strength is made perfect in my
weakness, thy grace is sufficient for me." - 2 Corinthians 12:9
Isaiah
41:10 “Fear thou not; for
I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea,
I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my
righteousness.”
Reverence
and submission to God's loving command will overcome fear. Hebrews
11:1 says that "Faith is the
substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Our
lives are a testimony and a witness of God's grace, mercy and love. God brings
us to the end of our own abilities so that we can tap into His ability. Through
the long and winding road of life, God never gives up on any of us. Through the
emotional pain of life, we don't rejoice in the pain. However God allows the
pain so that we can understand that comfort and rejoicing is in the glory of
God. Christians, who are seasoned in the faith, understand that despite
the suffering, thy grace is sufficient
for me. At Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, "Father, if there be any other way, let this cup of suffering and death
pass from me." Then He prayed “the freedom prayer”: "nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done." There
is a purpose for the pain. The purpose is that not my will but thine be done. The purpose is to subject my
will to His will. The next question is, "How do I deal with the pain?" The
world will say, take care of the symptom by alleviating the pain, but don't
deal with the root problem. However, Jesus never dealt with the symptoms; He
always dealt with the root of the problem.
Let’s
continues Michael’s message on our Testimony and Witness on the next Post.
In
Christ, Brian
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