This is what we all need to aspire to be in our relationship with the Lord. I think we cheat ourselves if we don’t work our hardest to experience what God is offering us here on earth before we go home for eternity. This life will be loaded with things we don’t understand and trials that make us ask why, but we are told by Jesus in John chapter 6 verse 33, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
When we can truly release our lives and believe this we can truly shine and make a difference. I struggle with this with my family most of all. Sometimes the stresses of life pile up and I react first before letting the Spirit guide me. I know my strength come from the Lord but sometimes my weakness shines instead of His strength. This is why it is so important to continue to grow and learn so the strength we receive helps us mature and we are focused on Him. All of our goals should be maturity in Christ and we should desire to do whatever it takes to continue to have our hearts transformed.
Paul challenges the church in Corinth in 2 Corinthians chapter 13 verse 5 by saying, “Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.” We must test our faith and continue to grow so as we mature in our walk people can see devoted people that are pursuing Jesus Christ as Lord of their lives. I like the reality check Warren Wiersbe writes in his commentary on these verses. “No doubt many of the problems in the church at Corinth were caused by people who professed to be saved, but who had never repented and trusted Jesus Christ. Our churches are filled with such people today.” I’m not perfect but I repent and seek wisdom daily so I can keep focused and continue to develop so I can help do my part of the Great Commission.
That is having a purpose and knowing that Jesus showed us exactly what to do. We must believe what we read in His word and work to surrender our lives to the Holy Spirit so we can do what we learned in the beginning of this blog, “…be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace…” And truly know that God is with us always. Amen