FASTING, PRAYING, STUDYING, AND LIVING FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD
SEPTEMBER 16, 2021
God's blessings to all His children around the world,
We hope and pray that God is indeed pouring out His blessings on everyone in the midst of all that is going on in the world. As we continue in this earthly life, we can take much hope in the Word of God, particularly those like in Romans 8:28-39. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For him whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to his own image, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover, him whom he did predestinate, him he also called; and him whom he called, him he also sanctified; and him whom he sanctified, him he also glorified. 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can prevail against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
An interesting story from the 1970 Daily Bread tells of lady who was searching through her "stuff" in preparing for a garage sale. As she went through her dresses, debating on the value of each item she saw a dress she particularly liked and checked it only to find it had been eaten by moths. The holes, symbols of her greed and selfishness accused her. When the dress could have done someone some good she had kept it in her closet, making excuses, in her mind, for the dress still being there, though she never wore it. She asked, "Could this moth-eaten dress represent us when we don't share the gifts, talents, and love that God has given us? Or in other words, when we go through all the motions of "servant hood" but do not live the Gospel. Is this what happens to our souls when we place too much "value" on temporal or material things, like the Pharisee who bragged about fasting twice a week or the rich man who gave out of his abundance?
Paul states in I Corinthians 13 that we can do a lot of things, even good things, but if done without love/charity, it is as if we never did it in the first place. The true motive of all we do must be based on our love for God. Otherwise we are like sounding brass or tinkling cymbals.
As each day comes and goes may we remember this prayer: "O Thou Desire of all nations, in the knowledge of whose love and power there is salvation for all the peoples of the earth, hasten the day, when all men shall acknowledge Thee as Lord over all. Hasten the day when our earthly society shall become the Kingdom of Christ. Hasten the day when Thy presence and the strong hand of Thy purpose shall be found not only in the hearts of a few, but throughout the whole world." Even so, come Lord Jesus. God be with you.
Paul Gage
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