5.19.10_1 John 1:1_Our task and goal

Praise the LORD!!!

    There is no greater task for the Christian to be about then seeking to grow their personal relationship with the LORD. To grow closer with each breath that they take. Second on the list of priorities is the subject of today's devotional.

   1 John 1:1

     "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life."

    Though we're not as blessed as the disciples, having been able to walk, touch and speak with the LORD, we're more blessed having believed in HIM without so doing(John 20:29).Our calling as Christians is to go out and spread the GOSPEL to every living soul upon the face of the earth(Matt. 28:19,20). Too many and I do mean far too many, Christians today, are happy to sit back and allow the world to go by. Not reaching out to the lost and dying of the world. This is an appalling fact to think about. If one truly loves the LORD, with their whole heart, mind, soul and body, we should be about HIS work for us continuously and with little thought given to much else.

    We hear many Christians making the statement that "JESUS is coming soon." Well if HE is, and they truly believe this fact in their heart, why are there so many lost and hurting people in the world that haven't heard of the saving graces given in HIS name? This is a hard question to answer and one that the answer for, doesn't make this generation of believers look very good. We've become complacent as to our duties for JESUS. We've become to worldly in our views of existence in a suffering world. We've become to self centered, which is a natural trait of mankind and one very hard to get rid of. With all these thoughts in mind, what is it that we can do to make amends for this problem? 


    First off, I'd say it would be to undertake a great deal of self examination! Asking the LORD to bless us with the HOLY SPIRIT, and reveal our deepest of sentiments to us. Then for HIM to bless us with the strength to repent, yes repent, of this error in our being. Then for HIM to grace us with the wisdom, knowledge and understanding to overcome this problem. Then finally, that HE would grace us with the power of the HOLY SPIRIT to be courageous warriors against the darkness that is so prevalent within this world and cause us to go forth and tell others about HIS works for all of mankind.


    These are just the primers for undertaking this task, because there is a lot more to this then these acts alone. For these are mostly done through the providence of GOD and not of our own being. We've the task of studying our Bibles and growing in the wisdom and knowledge that it'll take to preform these. We've also to begin undertaking the task as if the very lives of every human on the face of the planet depended upon it (which it does!) It is all well and good to know these things, but the real meat of the matter is doing it. An not just doing it whenever we feel like it or when we can make time for it. We need to see it as equal in value to taking our very next breath. As if life depended upon it. Only through having a mindset like this can the KINGDOM of GOD on earth be fully realized in this generation. There can't be a bunch of procrastination about it, it has to be done!!!


    There will be many trials and tribulations along the way, for the adversary will not take lightly to this being done. he has been at work for nearly two thousand years twisting and injecting errors into our churches. he'll not sit back and watch as Christians begin to stand up and proclaim the GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST throughout the world. he'll come at us with ever evil scheme he has in his little black book of lies and evil ways, to stop this from happening. The battle will be a hard one, to say the least, but it will be one that we already know the outcome of. For it has been written in the pages of the Bible for some time now and been in the great plan of GOD for mankind since before time was even thought of. What are you going to do? I know what I'm personally going to do, I'm going to start preparing for the battle!!!


   ***Just as I was coming to the end of writing this, satan stepped in. My host came and asked me about my future plans, as to a place to live and means of employment to meet the bills. Praise the LORD though, this has been upon my mind also a lot lately. What tomorrow shall bring as far as living, I don't know, but I do know that I place myself totally in the hands of GOD and trust HIM completely with it!!!***



    There will be no verses to follow up with, this is a time to put into action things you've read. For no matter what maturity of a Christian you're, there is plenty of room for improvement!!!

Prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org 

GOD bless and good day,

Rev. Marshall Barth

Vine of CHRIST Ministries

Vine Ministerial Network International