What is required of us as abundantly blessed Americans? Are we to just squander our freedom that so many have fought and died for? To squander the Spiritual Freedom that Christ died for?
There is great need all over the world, and we can’t simply pray to God asking him to change things if we are not willing to be the Body of Christ and let God work through us to make the change. I’m not talking about becoming a missionary, necessarily. I’m talking about the day-to-day decisions you make and the day-to-day interactions you have with other people. Are you living to make a name for yourself or to glorify the name of our Creator? I’m speaking to myself more than anyone. This is a game-changer for me. In this physical world our names will fade. You can make a huge positive impact on the lives you come across in this life here and now, but don’t strive to make a name for yourself or take the glory for what God has given you the ability to do in the first place. God has blessed me with great health and abilities, and I am often prideful to just take compliments all for myself when it’s actually not me at all! I certainly didn’t make myself, nor am I the one who sustains myself. Each breath I breathe comes by the Grace of God. So don’t waste your life living for yourself. 1 John 2:17 “And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
To what extent are we to sacrifice ourselves and our resources to benefit others? I still don’t know the exact answer to this. But I do know this: “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Luke 12:48. Much has been given… Hmm, Don’t you think we live in one of the most lavish places and times that has ever existed? Yes, we have been given MUCH. Much in terms of health, safety, wealth, communication, hobbies, and opportunities. So that means much is required of us. I think it’s up to each of us to pray for wisdom and be open to what God wants to do through us. But don’t just sit around twiddling your thumbs wondering, “What is God’s will for me? I just can’t figure it out!” If you’ve read the New Testament you already know what God’s will is. And what’s more, God says that he gives wisdom abundantly to whoever asks! “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5.
James 1:27 “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
Luke 10:27 “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”
It doesn’t matter if you’re not the sharpest tool in the shed. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know everything there is to know about theology or that someone you know is better at “witnessing” than you. God chose the foolish things of this world to shame the wise. And it was the most unlikely person, the Samaritan, who had compassion and helped the half-dead, beaten person on the side of the road (Luke 10:25-37). It wasn’t the well-educated Priest or the Levite. Don’t keep justifying to yourself that you can’t love and help your neighbor just because you don’t know specifically how. Look around you, for you won’t have to look far. Make small steps to do your best with what God has given you. Make at least some change, some start!
Listen to Voice of the Martyrs Radio (or Podcast like I do), read their magazines and you will soon realize that Christianity is not supposed to be comfortable! Read about missionaries who gave up their own pursuits to go live in the Himalayan Mountains to make a tangible difference in those remote areas, tending to the physical and spiritual needs of the people there. Joel Osteen’s religion of wealth and prosperity makes me want to choke! Learn about people who sacrifice every comfort- even suffer and die- that the name of Jesus will be glorified! We are not supposed to live for our own comfort. We are supposed to be the salt and light of the world! So what are we doing continuing to live solely for our own advancement? In the end, what will that accomplish or change?
“How long must we all wait to change,
This world bound in chains that we live in?
To know what it is to forgive and be forgiven?
You’ve heard it hundreds of times,
You say you’re aware,
Believe, and you care.
But do you care enough?
Where’s your conviction of the heart?”
Kenny Loggins, excerpt from Conviction of the Heart. (Never imagined I could put a Kenny Loggins quote in this blog, did ya?)
Here’s a great devotion on knowing God’s will: https://ourdailybread.org/article/what-does-the-nt-say-about-gods-will/
richenlife.wordpress.com 