Looking around us, we see injustice, pain, and sorrow. So, we cry out to God, “What do we do now?” We seek the Lord, wanting answers. Evil, hate, and violence appears to be winning. So, what can we do? What can I do? God’s answer rings forth:
Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land (Isaiah 1:18).
How sweet it is to know God’s grace, that can wash us white as snow! We, who know the Lord, cling to that truth with all its promises. Holding Him close to our hearts, we know that He is our sweetest treasure. Yet, despite that truth; why do we hold Him hidden, secretively clinging onto our hope? Shouldn’t we rather share His joy with everyone we meet? Why do we complacently march with the crowds, silent? Busy trying to be accepted, liked by those around us; yet, we become dim lights hidden. Too afraid to proclaim His truth, for fear that someone might be offended.
I Peter 3:12-19
For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
Our Higher Calling: What we must do!
We are to be always ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us. To defend the gospel of Jesus Christ to a world, hell bent on denying Him. However, how can they believe or inquire of our hope; when we look just as they? When we worry and fret about the trivialities of our own lives, never displaying the peace and joy that are ours in Him; would anyone want to seek the God we say we trust? If our primary desires in life have become consecrated into our discovery of comfort, prosperity, popularity, and things in general; then, we who profess the name of Christ, are become indeed impoverished.
Only a relationship with God can fulfill all the longings of our hearts. Before we can be a light shining hope into our darkened world, we must know this and be satisfied in His presence with us.
What truly commends Christ as lovely in this world? It is not the one who proclaims that through faith they gained all the earthly pleasures. Rather, it is that dear soul; having lost everything this world can offer, whose eyes shine bright with joy, hope, and faith; because, they know Him. Willing to die, rather than to deny the one on whom their life depends.
Prosperity Breeding Complacency
It is no wonder, our nation has forgotten; “In God, we trust”. As a nation, we enjoy the blessings of prosperity. However, instead of praising God and turning to Him; our hearts become satisfied with counterfeit treasures. While at the same time, we forsake the only true treasure, the one who blessed us to begin with-God. Laying on the shelf somewhere in our homes, a Bible lays unopened. Our prayers of thanks before a Thanksgiving dinner, words only; unless, we see Him as our only hope, joy, and treasure.
So, What Must We Do?
It is no wonder, the world does not see God as glorified in our lives, and desire to find Him. John Piper’s ministries motto is: “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”1 Satisfied in God: not our jobs, position in society, health, wealth, or prosperity. When we cling tight to the truth that in Him we live, breath, move and find our meaning. (Acts 17: 25,28 paraphrased). As Paul preached before the Athenians he proclaimed this:
God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things (Acts 17: 24-25).
We must seek Him above all else. Yearning to know Him, arise early to read His Word. Seek Him in prayer, communing with Him. Then, as you discover Him; proclaim His Grace, Love, and Glory to the world through your life and your words. Then, and only then, will others see Him as Glorious and to be desired above all else.
Concluding Tweets
[bctt tweet=”It is no wonder the world does not desire Him, if God is not Glorified in our lives” username=”effiedarlene”]
[tweetthis]Yearning to know God, arise early to read His Word. Seek Him in prayer[/tweetthis]
[tweetthis]We can only defend our hope in Christ, if we display that hope in our life[/tweetthis]
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. Because there is nothing more important than this, I urge you to seek Him today.
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2017
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
1John Piper, Taste and See: Savoring the Supremacy of God in All of Life, (Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah Publishers, 2005), 413.
The Inscription I added The Photo by Casey Horner on Unsplash