artwork used by permission of Ronald Barba
Every day of this pilgrimage we find that we are in the midst of a huge battle ground. One in which we must hold tight to the truth of who God is and the Glorious Gospel of Christ.
We at times find that we must cling tight to the Joy we have found in Him; while everything surrounding us tries to steal that joy. We are bombarded on a daily basis with annoyances, beepers, phone calls, failing internet service, car break downs, traffic, and the ever pressing interruptions. If I could only sit at Jesus feet all day, I would be content; but that is not what we are called to do. We must go into the world to preach the gospel. We are to be ambassadors of faith in all that we do and in every situation. This is true even when in the midst of the chaos surrounding us. I am certainly not saying that from that point of view that I have gotten this right always. When the internet was not working last night, at first my tone of voice with the representative I am certain displayed my frustration. After all, I only want internet. I need it to post my messages. I use it to listen to sermons and to study. It is my resource. Or is it? Is not God my only true resource? Is it not more important that I represent Christ by my tone of voice even when frustrated? We must remember that we are in the center of the largest battlefield carrying across all the centuries. Satan is angry because he failed in his attempt to overthrow God and it is Satan’s desire to take as many followers as he can with him into destruction. Let us turn to the scripture in
II Corinthians 4: 3-10: “But if the gospel is hid, it is hid to them that are lost. In whom the god of this world (Satan) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure (the glorious treasure of the gospel and its joy) in earthen vessels (frail and easily broken as we are), that the Excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken, cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.” So what are we to do?
1. Remember always the preciousness of the Grace which we have been given.
2. Remember how truly Glorious is the Gospel we have been given to teach
3. Cling tight to that which is our greatest treasure and greatest Joy—Christ Jesus
4. Remember that we are in the midst of a spiritual war and in the end, what we do for Christ is what matters. Not how much money I make, not how successful by the world’s standards that I am, and certainly not how strong I can appear. What really matters is have I pointed anyone to Christ by all that I say or do. Am I a willing and humble servant of Christ? Am I willing to die to myself that He might be displayed?
I love this Video Clip I ran across on Youtube…All I Have is Christ Let this be my battle cry in all that I do as a reminder of what is my purpose, my hope, and my only true joy.
© 2014 Effie Darlene Barba
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to any brands, products or services that I have mentioned with the exception of my own book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides regarding the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”