Praise the LORD!!!
Having a bit of a hard go of it today. Though I've been blessed to get the computer back up and walking(as opposed to running), this is my third day completely sans tobacco. That's right, I'm in the process of quitting smoking and 'cold turkey'!!! I went outside today like I normally would, but to just walk around, and I was pondering GOD and my/our relationship with HIM. That is when this verse came to me and that which followed on the verse.
Acts 20:24
"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace."
Prior to this verse Paul is talking to the Ephesian saints, before his departure from them. He is telling them that the HOLY SPIRIT has warned him, of that which is to come and that things really aren't looking like he'll be coming back to visit them again! There is a lot that can be brought forth through this one verse, but right off, I was led to go deeper on the first part of it alone, "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me..."
In this day and age where everyone is seeking to gain importance for themselves, this is a practice that wouldn't be often thought of. For it lies in direct resistance to the normal way of doing things. You may be wondering "what is he talking about?" At first, when you look at this verse, it sounds like something along the lines of which a person that is depressed would say. Or maybe that of a back slid-en Christian, complaining about their uselessness to GOD.
Neither of these are what the LORD has shown me today and I believe it'll surprise you, it did me! You are witnessing, from a man that truly had plenty to brag about within his life, total humility. That's right, Paul right here, is saying that with all his great accomplishments for the faith of Christianity, none of them holds any favor for him. Everything he's done has been useless in his own eyes. I can see this scene taking place. Paul surrounded by a group of believers and them all bringing out all these great things that Paul's done across the area, and Paul telling them no, to each great work they bring forth testimony about. After a while they all probably stopped bringing examples up and began wondering what truly did Paul believe was worthy of noting.
I believe there is but one thing here and throughout all of Paul's life, that he considered worthy of making note of. Any idea what a truly humble Christian would hold so dear and cherished, that all else would be counted as lose? You may think it is that which is written in the rest of the verse. We could say yes and no to this, because in part the answer is there, yet in part it isn't! Though Paul eludes to completing that which the LORD had given him to do. What is there, that is the rest of the story? For yes, we are to go forth and spread the GOSPEL, no doubt in my heart about this fact. But what Paul has told us in many places out rightly and in others hinted at graphically. Our true callings as Christians,is but to seek out relationship with JESUS, first and foremost, and this alone, is the greatest task set before us to fulfill. For without our knowing the LORD better then anything else in our lives, we're incomplete. How can we preach the GOSPEL if we're not intimate with the central character in it?
What is it in your life that holds center stage? Is it your job? Your family? Your ministry for the LORD? Your church and the people within it? Truly none of these, though all are worthy subjects to seek after doing your best with, none are even pail in comparison with what your personal relationship with JESUS should be. A long time ago in my early years as a Christian, someone gave me this little statement to remember. "That to know someone well, we have to spend a good deal of time with them. You wouldn't expect to know your child well, if you but spent ten minutes a day with them or less would you?" The same is true with our relationship with the LORD. If we don't spend time reading the Bible, in prayer, meditation on the WORD and quiet time with HIM how will we know HIM?
Reading our Bible is our first line of communication with GOD. Here, HE can speak to us through HIS WORD, and there is nothing about GOD that we can't find out within it's pages. But it does take time spent there and it must be done in the proper ways also. You can't just speed read or breeze through it. You must pray and ask HIM to lead you in your goal to find wisdom and understanding about HIM through it and you must treat it as respectfully as possible.
Prayer is our second line of communication with HIM. For this is where we seek to tell HIM more about our understanding of HIM and about those things in life that we need HIS help with. Too many of us use our prayers for but one thing and that is to ask for things, and though this is one of the things that prayer is to be used for, it is far from the only thing. Prayer is supposed to be a time of relating with GOD and not just one of formalities and form. Get loose, relax, the LORD is our friend as well as our GOD and we can talk with HIM just as if HE were our earthly father. Respectfully, but openly!
Meditation on the WORD, is not the mantra quoting type of meditation. In this, we lay hold of a verse or small section of the WORD and go over it within our minds, praying on it and asking GOD to open up our understanding to the deeper meanings of it. We all know that language isn't a simple and straight forward subject. One word can have numerous meanings alone, let alone if you group it together with others. GOD's WORD is even deeper then most all of our languages put together, for it is living and each time we read it, another meaning may just come out of it. You could say it's kind of relational, it relates to that which we're going through within our lives.
This next one may be new to you, But it is one that really began to change my relationship with the LORD! Quiet time, just what is quiet time? Just that, we are quiet before the LORD. So far in all that we've done we've done a large amount of talking and very little time letting GOD do it. In our fast paced world, of where almost everything can be obtained in a short time, we expect answers and fulfillment of everything in record time. I tell you something, GOD doesn't operate in this manor, though HE can preformed instant miracles, for the most part HE allows things to gradually happen, bringing all the parts into place and then moving upon them to effect change. We tend to expect replies here and now and instead of being quiet and waiting on GOD, we want to fill this time with words or thoughts of some kind. An this just defeats the purpose of being alone with GOD. This is possibly the hardest to undertake, because not many people can completely quiet their mind. I've really yet to be able to quiet it completely, so I seek after looking into the eyes of JESUS. I envision looking into HIS eyes, eyes where there is so much peace and love within, that it is truly hard to comprehend. As stated this is most likely the hardest practice to undertake, it is completely against our nature, to be still and listen. It is also perhaps the most gratifying, for it allows GOD to directly impress HIS will for you before your eyes and it is here that we each must chose. So what will it be that you seek after today? Will it be to grow your testimony for the LORD? Will it be to draw your family closer to the LORD? Or will it be to allow the LORD to draw closer to you and sit quietly in relationship with HIM, listening to that which HE has for you and you alone?
Other verses to ponder: Romans 8:31-39; Philip. 1:19-26; Philemon 17-26
Use these verses, but don't stop with them, cross reference and seek out GOD from within HIS WORD!!!
Prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org
My other blog, which you may enjoy: Blogs from the VINE
GOD bless and good day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries
Vine Ministerial Network International
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
