Run For Your Life!

Far too often the church becomes a place where people can go and have a good time. The focus is set on entertainment and pleasure rather than on being changed into the image of God. On this Sunday, I share with you a strong warning and a pleading exhortation to remain faithful to the true body of Jesus Christ.

He is Worthy

Two weeks ago, I was given the opportunity to address my graduating class. I want to share with you the things which I shared with them that have impacted my life .

"The Scripture says that “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” Growing up in a Christian home, I memorized this verse from a very young age, yet I did not come to fully understand its meaning until later in my life. Before God saved me, I could never completely comprehend the depth and beauty of His love. When He did open my eyes, He placed me on an incredible journey of coming to deeply know and understand that love.
When God justifies a person, declaring them righteous at the time of salvation, they are set-apart from the world and called to live for the glory of their Maker. During the rest of our lives here on earth, we live the process of sanctification: becoming like Jesus Christ. For me, this has been and I know will continue to be a time of great learning, growing, stretching, and pruning. As God shapes me into the person He wants me to be, I must daily learn to deny myself. As He gently convicts me of the areas of sin in my life, I know that I need to submit to His loving reproof. But it is when He shows me how much He loves me, it is then that something deep inside stirs me far greater than before. My Heavenly Father so loved the world that He gave His only Son. We human beings give gifts to one another out of love for each other, but God gave His only Son, the perfect gift, out of love for us that we might live for Him and have eternal life. Our Heavenly Father, the Creator of the universe, had an incredible plan for the salvation of mankind: the sacrifice of His only Son. Just as the scripture says, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” We are all born sinful. Each of us has turned to our way, but because He loved us and saved us, we will see the glory of Christ.
There is something so overwhelming about the love of God. There is something so deep and beautiful and inspiring about His grace. There is no other way to serve Him except to give up our lives for Him. He deserves everything simply because He is worthy. He has called us, will we go and serve Him?
I have personally felt the discouragement and uncertainty that comes with being unsure of where my life is going, especially when countless people are asking me. I have often felt that people look down upon me because I want to live for Christ, not that it is wrong to live for Him, but that there must be something more in this life that deserves our attention and pursuit apart from His service. People tell me that I need to be prepared for life in the “real world.” And yet, what is the “real world?” Is it not the life to come instead of this passing substitute? Through my discouragement, I have sought comfort and assurance from my Savior and this I have learned: God knows exactly where He wants me to be. He will guide me there. He will be with me through each storm and each sunrise. He has plans for my life that go far beyond more than I could ever ask for or imagine. His grace will carry me for He is faithful.
Dear, friends. If there is one thing that I pray you would take from this, may it be that our loving God gave His only Son. For that reason, He is worthy to receive the reward of His suffering! What more can we do but give up our lives for the sake of Him and the gospel?
Our world will tell you that true success lies in becoming someone of great influence; someone who possesses great wealth and fame; people with status and beauty and happiness. But let the Word of God speak in Joshua 1:8 on true success, “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.” Our success comes from walking a path pleasing to God; living a life dedicated to the cross and its message. He must have glory from our lives. Seeking His Kingdom must be our first priority. If we seek glory from our lives on earth, we will surely receive it, but only from mere men. I tell you truthfully, that if you seek the glory of Christ and the praise of Heaven in this life, you will not receive fame on earth. Mankind will not applaud you. You will have no distinction or earthly success. Yet the God of Heaven and earth who is on His throne will be glorified. If we can accomplish this and receive no glory in this life, may Christ be praised, for He is worthy.
There are people all around the world who have never heard of the love of Jesus. There are people right here in North America who have everything, yet they have nothing, and there are people here who have nothing yet they have everything. I want to be one of those who would appear to the world as having nothing, but may they know that truly I have everything in Christ and more than all I could ever ask for. I know that the deepest blessings will come from serving Him. I know that security and joy and worth are found in building His Kingdom because He is glorified. We receive no glory because He deserves it all, and that should bring us great joy. For when we look at the depth of our sin compared to the glory and perfection of Christ, we understand why He is so worthy.
We end a journey today, just as we begin another one. May we witness to mankind a bold dedication to living for Christ. May they see Christ living His life through us. May we be preparing ourselves for the biggest day of our lives. Not our graduation day, not our wedding day, not the day we have our first child, but the day that we stand before Jesus Christ! May we be prepared to receive the crown of life because we have been found faithful in the sight of Almighty God.
The world tells us to love ourselves. Jesus says, “Deny yourself.” The world is telling us that we deserve a good life. Christ commands us to “take up our cross and follow Him.” Humanism says great is the happiness of man. Scripture says “whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
From the depth of my heart, I plea that we all would recognize the worthiness and beauty of Jesus Christ. As He sovereignly orchestrates the details of our lives, I pray that we would live devoted to Him. Let us place Him on the highest place for He is our King. What a joy it is to serve Him! What an honor it is to sit at His feet! What rewards will we see in the Kingdom of God and within our own lives as we strive to live out the words of Scripture!
May the beauty of the Lord captivate us this day. May His sacrifice stir in us the desire to obey Him and give up all the comforts of this life in order to serve Him. May His sweetness cause us to draw near to His throne of grace and find comfort in His everlasting arms. I pray that the Lamb that was slain would receive the reward of His suffering as we pour ourselves at the foot of the cross because He is the King, and He is worthy of our all. "

Psalm 19:1 "The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands."

The Valley of Vision

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights; hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold
Thy glory.

Let me learn by paradox
that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is the place of vision.

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine; let me find Thy light in my darkness, Thy life in my death, Thy joy in my sorrow, Thy grace in my sin, Thy riches in my poverty, Thy glory in my valley.