Suffering Is Part of Your Calling (Part 1)

For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Philippians 1:29

You may not think this to be true at first, but to believe in Christ and to suffer for His name's sake is a gift… We would never truly equate suffering with a gift; however, in the body of Christ, suffering is gaining… This is why Paul says, “For unto you it is given…” You have been given a chance to let your tears water a seed; you have been allowed to allow your pain to produce growth, and to ensure your work is not in vain. We believe in many things. When we are young, we believe in Santa Claus, when we get a little older, we believe in our friends, and soon we believe in the first relationship we have… Each of these things is either untrue or leads to disappointment… Today, place your belief in something real, place your belief in something that will last throughout eternity, place your belief in Christ… It is only in Him that through suffering we can smile knowing what will eventually come to pass… It is only in Jesus that we can be cast down amongst our peers and have faith that we will be exalted… 

I was once told that if you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything… I was also told that when you don’t make a choice, you have already made one… Today, many of us are trying to straddle the fence of life that divides good and evil… We want to “have our cake and eat it too;” however, for many of us, the one thing we don’t want to do is work to succeed… Paul’s letter to the church of Philippi teaches us a very valuable life lesson; this lesson is simply that suffering is inevitable… We are given a golden opportunity to suffer for the name of Christ as opposed to suffering for monetary gain and worldly riches… When one suffers, they bear, endure, or go through something… Challenges are at every turn in life; however, the outcome can either be positive or negative… Today let us look at our lives and see how much suffering we try to avoid for the name of Christ, take a look at how many times you have quenched your thirst for Christ because of what people might say or do, let’s see how often we refute His name around certain people or how often we put our religion on the shelf to fit in or get ahead… Like I said earlier, suffering is a part of life; the thing to note, though, is that it can either lead to growth or death… Which path of suffering are you choosing today?

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

You Have A Reason To Be Thankful

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

The will of God is that we should always be thankful, find a reason to rejoice, and continue to pray… No matter what storms come your way or obstacles that you face, the challenge of every man and woman of God is to stay the course, holding to the precious promises of God and making the most of every situation! Paul told the church of Philippi, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” The secret of being content is that you hold to the fact that God has seen you through your ups and downs, you smile because, regardless of your abundance or your lack, you still have a roof over your head and clothes on your back… I remind myself daily that things could always be worse and that only rejuvenates my joy. A child of God is known by actions, not by what they say… Paul’s letter to the church of Thessalonica reminds us that we are to praise God and pray to God continuously… When your time is devoted to praising God and praying, you have no room to complain. When your time is devoted to giving thanks unto the Lord, you don’t have time to pout or throw temper tantrums… 

Paul says rejoice evermore! Oftentimes, we are looking for a red sea or Damascus road experience to rejoice, but we are told today that we should always rejoice… There will be storms in your life, there will be trials that you encounter, and we must learn to stop trying to face them on our own, but go to the Lord in prayer… So often people face challenges and try to defeat them by themselves, that’s what the church is for, that’s what the body of believers is for; God said when two or three are gathered in His name He will be in the midst… Pray to God, but also surround yourself with people of God to pray with you and for you… We as children of God can give thanks simple because God promised to never put more on us than we can bear, we can give thanks because we know that no weapon formed against us shall prosper, we can give thanks because we know that even when our closest friends turned there backs on us, Christ never has and in fact died on the cross so that we might have life and have it more abundantly… Paul says that all these things are the very will of God concerning us… People should see you rejoice (having joy independent of your situation or circumstance. They should see you praying, having a continuous dialogue with the Lord (speaking and listening); they should see you giving thanks because He has looked beyond faults, bestowed needs, and continues to show His love regardless of our love being returned....

BE BLESSED!!!

Offer Unto God Thanksgiving

Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Psalm 50:15

Despite the ups and downs that you may face or encounter, the words which come from your lips should be words of thanksgiving unto the Lord… The devotion calls for us to remember that things can always be worse. When facing storms in your life, you must reach a point where you can smile because of the ability you have to feel the rain. Many people would love to go through what you are going through; however, the path they are traveling calls for a different storm for them to face… I make this point because we all encounter storms; there is no life paved from the womb to the gates of heaven that will not subject you to storms during your travel… This is why you have to be thankful; you can thank God in the midst of your storms because you know that you will come out of them, and the water which has fallen will simply provide the nutrients needed for the seed which God planted in you to sprout… There is a purpose to the trials you face, and this is why the writer goes on to say, pay thy vows unto the most High… Don’t hold back because of the things you face; as a matter of fact, give even more when the trials become that much more intense… People are learning from your walk of faith, and you too will be exalted because God will definitely show His faithfulness when you adhere to His calling despite the obstacles that are before you… Make no mistake about it, I will deliver thee, says the Lord… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

There's No Life Without Christ

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Matthew 16:24-25

There are two paths that one can travel in this life, the first is the path of eternal life paved with submission, humbleness, and modesty while on this earth… This path requires one to sacrifice the desires of the eye to store up rewards for when this physical life has ended… The second path is the path of worldly lust; this path is paved with all the fine riches and measures of success as decreed by the standards of the world we live in… In choosing this path, one is required to focus on self, seek the advancement of their lives at any cost, and to reject future rewards, always desiring to have things now… As we come to understand these two contrasting paths, the question I pose to you today is simple: What is your spiritual destination worth to you? So many of us proclaim that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, but how much does Christ really mean to you and the direction in which your life will go? These two profound and critical questions are the questions that we must ask as we decide on whether we will pursue the dreams that the world lays out or the vision that God has for us, which will not bear its truest rewards on this earth… Understand that Jesus wants us all to understand that walking in the will of God is no small task, and it takes a dedicated, enduring, and persevering person to reach the levels that God has set…  Take up our cross today, don’t be troubled by the ways of the world or the views that people may hold; know that by giving up yourself you will find your true worth and live life more abundantly!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

A Mess Won't Be Blessed

"Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order."

1 Corinthians 14: 39-40

There are a lot of things that go on in a church service; there are a lot of “moves of the Holy Spirit” aligned with shouts of praise and adoration… Even though these things are apparent, we must come to understand and realize today that “…all things be done decently and in order…” We intentionally examine these verses from back to front, knowing that we serve a God of order… We all desire to please God and walk in the gifts that He has bestowed upon us; however, it is of the utmost importance that in walking in our gifts, we travel the path that has been laid before us instead of putting the cart before the horse… There is nothing wrong with prophesying or speaking in tongues; however, there is a correct order in which these things are to be carried out… I can recall a story that my father has shared with me several times; this particular story depicts a woman who attended his home church in Washington, D.C. Every Sunday at the same time, this individual would catch the “Holy Ghost” and begin to shout… One Sunday, at the appointed time, this lady jumped up, swung her hand out, and knocked another lady's hat off her head… To my knowledge, no fights broke out or words were exchanged; however, the following Sunday, the lady who had her hat knocked off confronted the lady with the “timed praise” and told her that she better not touch her hat again… 

Wouldn’t you know when the clock struck her appointed time to shout, she lifted her hand up, ensuring that she would miss the lady's hat… I recall this story today to highlight the importance of sincerity within our praise… The Holy Spirit flows without a timetable; however, there are some people in the church who want to display gifts that God has not given them, and so when they do this, they are not “done decently and in order…” I have been to a lot of churches and have been turned off by what I gathered as stumbling blocks of praise… A lot of people have been misled or are being misled by the gift of speaking in tongues; this is not for everyone, nor is it to be done at any given time… The bible says that there is a time and place for everything, and I believe that this rule applies as well in Paul’s letter to the church of Corinth… Speaking in tongues isn’t a bad thing, prophesying isn’t a sin, but understand that in all things God is to be glorified and His name is to be exalted (not yours)… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

There's Still Room For You

Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger forever.

Jeremiah 3:12 

Despite the many avenues you have traveled in life and the dark paths you may be on right now, be encouraged to know that God desires for you to “Return…” Just like the prodigal son; no matter your current situation or how far you have fallen, God is standing with open arms waiting for you to come home… In a vision concerning Jerusalem and Judea, Isaiah the son of Amoz records words from the mouth of God in the 1st chapter and 18th verse of his prophetic book, the words, "Come now, let us reason together, "says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Make no mistake about it today, you are a filthy rag and without the cleansing blood of Jesus, hell has an RSVP with your name on it… Even as ugly as it may be or however hard it may seem to acknowledge, know that you have made mistakes, acknowledge that you have given in to temptation. You must acknowledge the errors of your ways; however, in doing so, you must also come to the realization that you can overcome and be victorious through the saving power of Jesus Christ… Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet; his words were recorded in light of the coming destruction that the house of Israel would face… His tears were sown knowing of the coming doom and bondage that was on the horizon… Today, know that these same tears are sown in your life when others see you heading down the wrong path; these tears are sown in your life when people see the direction in which you are headed and how your life seems to be spiraling out of control… These tears are sown not because of the destruction, but because God’s desire is not for you to go against His will… The destruction you face is because of the trials of life that have conquered you and the temptation you have given in to… You have “backslid” and God is indeed angry; however, He wants you to know that if you return to Him, that “… I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you…” God wants you to turn to Him; He is tired of watching you fall, He is tired of watching you struggle, and He wants you to know that He is merciful… Jesus is waiting with open arms, saying, “WHOSOEVER WILL, LET HIM COME”.

The question of the day, is He speaking to you?

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Stay Positive; Things Could Always Be Worse

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

The challenge of every Christian is to live every day and every hour of their life to fulfil God’s will… This doesn’t mean simply inquiring about God’s will, but executing the very steps outlined in today’s devotional scriptures… We are called to rejoice, pray, and give thanks in all circumstances… The part we tend to lose sight of is the “in all circumstances” as we find ourselves from time to time becoming distracted by situations both positive and negative and ultimately losing sight of what God’s will is… Understand today that it is very easy and even natural to rejoice when things are pleasant; it can become second nature to pray when things become difficult… But how do we handle the opposite; are we able to rejoice when things or situations are unpleasant? Can you continue to pray to the Father when the storm has left your doorstep? Can you give thanks when you don’t receive what you desire…? These are the questions that we must ask ourselves today, knowing that we are to live these points in every area and situation of our lives. As a Christian, we are to rejoice no matter what, we are to pray without ceasing, and we are to be thankful for everything… God has a plan for you, and it is perfect. You rejoice because your Master is in control, you pray because this is your communication line directly to the Father, and you remain thankful because things could always be worse…  Always walk in the will of God, because I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18).

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Christ Is Coming Back

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Revelation 1:7

There is one thing guaranteed in life: Jesus is coming back… Paul states in his letter to the church of Philippi, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” The “secret” Paul is referring to is trusting and having faith in Christ… No matter what you face or encounter in this life, you must have the understanding that Christ will be exalted and through all things His name will be glorified… As I go through life, my hope is neither in the present nor in the conditions of this earth, but in the promise of Christ’s return to this earth… Through John’s suffering and isolation, God reveals a plan and purpose behind all that we go through… We are reminded in the 22nd chapter of Revelations (the 12^th verse) that the Lord’s coming is approaching: “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”… As a Christian, we are to live every day as if it’s our last (not live it up according to the world but live knowing that pleasing Christ should be our desire, knowing that tomorrow isn’t promised and that Christ is Coming Back!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

It Was Christ Which Delivered You

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:13-14

It is only through the mercy of God and the grace of His son that you have been “delivered from darkness…” This passage cautions me to be thankful for the mercy and saving power of our God… As I read these verses, this epistle informs me that there is news for the one who thinks more highly of himself than he ought to think. This letter provides a bit of information for the one who places all his care into the hands of physical wealth or power… Paul asks a question to the church of Colossae that should be echoed to us today, “who hath delivered us from the power of darkness…?” As the songwriter said, “If it were not for the Lord who was on my side, tell me, where would I be?” Make no mistake about it, you are here by the grace of God and are alive because He has allowed you to experience His love, affection, and tender mercies… It is of the utmost importance that we remember who has delivered us from darkness. Paul posed this question to the body of believers, and it is very germane to today’s church as well… 

The bible cautions us several times that we “are not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think…” You cannot do it on your own. If you look at your life when you have tried to handle things in your own power, I am sure that you can agree with this statement, knowing that nothing worked as you planned… We couldn’t save ourselves, and the filth that we are wasn’t, nor is it worthy of heaven… This is why Paul goes on to ask not only who delivered us but also who “hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son…?” To be translated in this sense is to be converted, transformed, or turned… God has converted us from what we were, He has transformed our way of thinking and what we truly desire, and He has turned us from our path of sin…  God has delivered us from the bondage of sin and has provided us a golden opportunity to come back to Him through the sacrifice of His very own beloved son, Jesus Christ! We didn’t have the pure sacrifice that was needed to pay the debt that we owed, and if we understand that, we can understand and know that Christ has delivered us and wiped our sins away!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!