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May 5, 2009
The Staying Power of Jesus
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Greetings!
Kim and I recently started a new workout routine together and it is kicking our tails! Even though I come from a background of college sports, racing and guiding "extreme" sports and Kim comes from a background that includes college soccer, we are getting blasted. She has twice let me know that if I wasn't with her she would quit. Secretly, and due to my man pride, I have never told her that I am not having fun either. In fact, most mornings I am more interested in eating donuts and watching the news then afflicting pain upon myself.
I share our pain, and the humor of it, to build an analogy to our spiritual life. Our spiritual life is much like a hard workout. We know it is good for us but it seems like we have a thousand reasons to neglect it. We do this as a choice. We choose not to "work out" because we know that for our spirit to grow something of the flesh must die! This is the plain hard truth. We cannot grow spiritually without death.
Jesus paid the ultimate price for your life ... with His life. The beginning of your growth to know God and become more like His Son Jesus is death. A death that lead to LIFE! LIFE is...
Living
In
Fullness
Everyday!
To live fully, we need to exercise our body, mind and spirit to be in tune with the rhythms of God's grace. This takes hard work. Something must die. It may be sleep, your favorite show, a hobby, exercise, work, and on and on. The point is, for something spiritual to grow we must put in the hard work of spending time in God's Presence and this is only accomplished when you wake up and make it happen! It may seem painful at first but the reward is worth it!
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Today's hard work leads to future glory!
13 It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
~ 2 Corinthians 4:13-18 ~ |
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Think about LIFE to get through the tough times
In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul is sharing with believers that ministry is hard but worth it. Even though Paul experienced great pain, persecution and troubles, he looked at the reward of his effort for motivation to continue. We need to do the same.
There is nothing like walking in the center of God's divine will. This is truly "Living In Fullness Everyday". We only accomplish this great goal when we spend time in God's Presence and absorb His goodness, grace, mercy and love. When we spend time with God He rubs off on us! We, in turn, carry about His glory in our earthen vessels for His use. This, my friends, is God's great plan for spreading the gospel of Jesus ... you and your LIFE on display!
To Live In Fullness Everyday we have to work. Just like Kim and I getting up and not hitting snooze, even though we know pain is waiting, so you must press "through" life to have LIFE! You must "count the cost" and make the move to spiritual growth. It will not happen apart from your involvement. So, make the decision to go for it and really do LIFE!
If you are like me, you need to start with an attainable goal. Maybe it is prayer, maybe it is serving, Bible Study, fasting, or some other spiritual discipline. I don't know what it is you need to do but God does. Ask Him? Ask your Heavenly Father what you should do with your life and your time to get LIFE! He will not disappoint.
Remember, when you begin your journey do so in faith. Faith sees past the initial pain of a workout to a better body and a fit lifestyle. The same is true for your spirit man. Faith sees beyond the sacrifice of the flesh and into the glory of God's gaze ... faith runs to the Father and is rewarded with life and the grace to Live In Fullness Everyday. |
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For King and Kingdom,
Randy Martin |
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