For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Philippians 2:13 NLT
Prior to meeting my husband and being a follower of Jesus, I was a single mom. We lived (and still do) in a very rural location and our house sits so far back on our property that you cannot see it from the road. I love this location. It is secluded, private and I can’t see my neighbors and they cannot see me. The kids and I spent many days and nights, holed up in our house, separated from the world outside and absolutely content to be locked away in our own private little paradise. We loved seclusion.
Our son and I always joked (well maybe half joking ; ) that we would love to live on a houseboat in the bayou and live off the land/water. Because we “don’t like people”.
Now that Jesus is Lord of my life I realize that’s not the outlook God would desire of me. I was created to glorify God and to show others the incredible relationship that we can have with Him. (In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 NIV). I can’t very well do that hiding out in a houseboat in Louisiana, or an old rickety house in upstate NY for that matter, avoiding contact with everyone and being totally inaccessible.
This is an area that God working on in my life, for about 20 years now. My comfort zone is never being in a crowd, speaking in front of people or talking to strangers. But the center of God’s will is rarely ever our comfort zone. It is the safest place we will ever be, but certainly not comfortable because the center of God’s will is the place that He calls us too (typically that is beyond where we ever thought we would or could even be) and where He stretches us, grows us, and strengthens us to be more glorifying for Him (Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10). And, we are never alone, He is right there with us through it all (It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8).
The bottom line is there’s a broken and hurting world out there. There are people that need to hear about the way that God has worked in our lives and the way that He sent other people to minister to us. We need to comprehend fully that those around us, who don’t know Jesus Christ, our co-workers, friends, family members, maybe even spouses, are at this moment destined for hell. If they don’t see Jesus in us or hear the incredible things He has, and continues to do, in our lives, who will tell them and how will they ever be rescued from that awful fate?
Jesus didn’t come to condemn those who don’t know Him, to hell…He came to rescue them from it! (For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:17 NKJV). The plan is that you and I would reach out to the world, help them to see God in us so that they would come to have a personal relationship with Jesus and they would then help people to see Jesus in themselves too. (Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 28:19).
We have got to stop being self centered, self minded, people who are waiting for the end to our work week so we can lounge and watch television, stop waiting for the next weekend to put our feet up and relax, we need to stop waiting for the next moment that we can get away from everyone and everything. We have got to become people who live for Jesus! There are no days off from glorifying God in this life. Our days here on earth are numbered, they are few (compared to the eternity that awaits us), we will have all of eternity to praise and worship God….we will only have this one short life to do His will, glorify Him to the lost and make an eternal impact. (Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV).
The enemy loves when we are complacent and he can keep us from being used by God to rescue others from his grasp and eternal damnation. Let’s stop being inaccessible to God, get off our bottoms and become warriors for Him!
I pray that today we would be more motivated, than ever, to reveal Jesus Christ and His power in our lives to those around us (So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31). I pray that we would stand up for Jesus, be his hands and feet and warriors for Him (For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. Hebrews 6:10)! We should be honored to be used by Him for any good works. Let’s make ourselves accessible and do the works that He has called us to. (For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 NIV).
If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, I pray that you would go to our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/) and pray the prayer that is outlined there. He desires to be your Savior and so much more. Once you have prayed, please reach out to me at admin@Forgiven-N-Loved.com and let me know so that I can be in prayer for you and hopefully help you grown in your relationship with, and knowledge of, our Precious Savior- Jesus Christ.
Luv Ya!
