New Year's Day I received a phone call with some very sad news. A very dear friend of mine was called home to be with the Lord. The one thing that has stood out the most to me during this time of bereavement is what everyone is saying about this young man. Those that knew him well talk about his relationship with the Lord and his smile and the love that was always shown by him. Not one bad word has been said by anyone. It made me think about what would be said about me if God were to call me on home. While I am not really concerned about what people say about me, I am concerned about what God will say to me when I am standing before Him on the day of judgment.
Revelations 2:2 says, 'I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary'. These words are a true testament to someone living life under God's direction, waiting on Him and allowing Him to direct his or her path. This verse also shows that God is intimately acquainted with us. He knows the good and the bad and yet He loves us anyway. Here in this passage, the church at Ephesus had remained faithful to the Lord through difficulty and persecution. Even though there were those around them who didn't live by God's law, they continued to stand on God's Word. Isn't that what this life is all about? God needs us to be a light that shines in this dark world. Even though we may live in a house with unbelievers, work with unbelievers, see them at the grocery store, at the mall, even at the church house.....they should always be able to see Jesus in everything we do. It is not just about quoting the Word, we should be living the Word. For the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. As Christians we ought to regularly examine our motives and priorities against God's standards. Taking the time to ask Him to remove anything that is not like Him.
This same chapter goes on to say that God had one complaint against the church at Ephesus, 'that you have abandoned the love you had at first'. (verse 4) So many times we allow the hardships of life to turn us away from the person God designed us to be. Things like the loss of a loved one, a job, divorce, a friend can cause us to become bitter with a hardened heart. Make us skeptical of everyone we encounter. But how will the world know that we are Christians but by our love. But the bitterness that shows in our everyday lives contradicts the Word which says that 'all things work together for the good of them who love the Lord and are the called according to His purpose'. (Romans 8:28) Yes, even death. That is why our hearts can be sad over the loss of someone we love, but as Christians we know that even death has a purpose in God's master plan. Look at the death of His Son Jesus. He died so that we might live. I am the first person to tell you that I could care less what other's think about me as long as I am living the life that God wants me to live. Being the best person I can be and always showing the love of Christ to everyone I meet is what matters. How do I do this? Through a smile, a kind word, getting over on the highway so someone can merge on, not repaying evil for evil, not always saying the first thing that pops into my head. I have to be honest and say that sometimes this is hard. There are days that I fail miserably at this but I confess it to God and He gives me grace and new mercies every morning and for this I am grateful. So as You continue to change me and grow me up in You, let the life that I live speak for me. And let that life be one that is pleasing in Your sight.
Most Gracious Heavenly Father,
Thou who made me and knows all about me. Thou who knows my heart and the motives behind all that I do. Search me and try me and know my heart, try me and know my thoughts and whatever You find that is not like you Lord please remove it Lord. I want to be of service for You. In Jesus' Name I pray Amen.
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