To me, who am less
than the least of all the saints,
this grace was given,
that I should preach among
the Gentiles in the
unsearchable riches of Christ,
and to make all see
what is the fellowship
of the mystery, which
from the beginning of the ages
has been hidden in
God who created all things
through Jesus Christ;
to the intent that now
a manifold wisdom of
God might be made known
by the church to the
principalities and powers
in the heavenly
places, according to the eternal
purpose which He
accomplished in
Christ Jesus our
Lord, in whom we have boldness
and access with
confidence through faith in Him.
Ephesians 3: 8 -- 11
December
31, 2014, another day, another closing of a year, and while this is just
another day and tomorrow will be just another day, it can be important not
because we begin a new year tomorrow but it is a day in which the Lord has made
and a day in which you can serve the Lord once again. Yes, it is the end of 2014 and it can be a
time to reflect upon the previous months and days to examine how your life
fared in the life of Christ. Tomorrow
is more than just a celebration, it's just another day, and yet it can be an
important day, it is important as you make it and it should be a day that you
not only celebrate because it's a beginning of a new 12 months, but as a day to
think about your priorities, and how you will serve the Lord in 2015. I pray that you will make 2015 a great year
and it will be a great year as you apply yourself in the service of the
Lord. Think about this as did Paul, you
are one who has been given grace, not because of who you are, what you have,
what you know, rather this free gift of grace.
And why was this grace given to you if you are already elected by God to
live forever with Him in heaven and this before the foundation of the world?
Just as Paul mentions this grace was given so that you can preach the gospel,
the unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ.
Some of you have the call of God to be a missionary, others to be a
pastor, or a leader in a church, and for the most of you were called to be a
good father, a good husband, a good member of society, and to manifest Jesus
Christ in your workplace, and your playtime, anywhere and everywhere you
roam. What a blessed thing it is to
know that God has chosen you for His grace to be given to you, and does not this drive you to make 2015 even greater in the service of the Lord. This will mean making our priorities
properly and that means that Jesus Christ is at the head of all your
priorities. As a Christian who are in fellowship with other Christians, and you are in fellowship with the mystery
that was hidden in God, not a god, no, Jehovah God, the creator of everything
that exists and this creation done was by His Word, Jesus Christ the Wisdom of
God. This mystery has been made known
to the church, you are the church, for you are the called out ones by God and
this is to be His temple and even all principalities and powers know this mystery
that has been revealed and that revelation was according to God's eternal
purpose and that purpose was accomplished through Jesus Christ, by his death,
life, resurrection, and ascension into heaven. Paul in writing to the young minister Timothy wrote to him these very
important to words that are also important for us: "Study to show your self approved unto God, a workman that need
is not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy
2:15). The Greek word that we
translate into English as study has a bigger meaning than just to study for it
means to be diligent, to make an effort, to be prompt or earnest, to endeavor,
to due diligence and to hasten to do a thing, to exert oneself, we are to make
our calling and election sure (2 Peter 1: 10).
Further Peter added to this fact that we are to be diligent when he
stated this: "but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every one who
asked you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear"
(1 Peter 2:15). Christianity is not
a placid life, how can it be when the message of the Gospel is not well
received by people in this world. How
can it be a peaceful or a calm life when you are taking the Gospel into the
world a world that is attempting in every way to destroy Christianity? Are you looking for some sort of placid
life, a life of ease, and everything you are doing in this life is to bring you to
that place of calm and ease, a life of abundance? Or, are you taking your stand for the truth no matter the cost,
denying yourself, and picking up your cross and following Jesus Christ? Will 2015 be the year in which you have made
that firm and final commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ? Are you not tired of
sloppy agape, a form of Christianity that is nothing more than group euphoria,
causing a person to feel pious, rather than understanding that you are the
least of the saints and your ministry was not to feel euphoric, no, you have a
ministry, the Gospel, and that ministry does not end with pastors, it ends with you. This blog on this last day of
2014 records the words of Paul: "Therefore
I ask that you do not lose heart and my tribulations for you, which is your
glory. For this reason I bow my knees
to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven
and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His
glory, to be strengthened with the might through His Spirit in the inner man,
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and
grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the
width and length and depth and height -- to know the love of Christ which
passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly
abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in
us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever
and ever. Amen" (Ephesians 3:13 --
21).
May 2015 be
a great year for you and for those who love and may this be the year that you
serve the Lord in ways greater than ever before: you won't be disappointed.
O God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing
and give praise,
even with my glory.
Awake, lute and heart!
I will awake in the dawn
I will
praise You, O LORD,
among the peoples, and I will sing praises
to You
among the nations.
Psalm 108: 1 -- 3
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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