Suddenly overcome with the reality of people walking around without any joy or consciousness to who Jesus Christ is, makes you feel more alive and awake then ever. I just met a man who came into my workplace to test our fire alarms. This is a quarterly task, so I don’t see him often. He’s a really kind man and always so polite. But, what made me saddened was the reality of “does he know You Lord? Is his life full in the joy of the Lord? what if today is his last day and he does not know You?” Then this reality broadened as I started thinking about people throughout my life and in the world who are living their day to day lives without hope, not just the hope of the world or a “I’m hoping for the best” but, a hope in Christ! A hope that never fails.
This last Monday our church had our women’s bible study. As we broke off into our groups to discuss our lesson, our leader was telling us about an interview that she saw on T.V that was hosting a well known motivational speaker. He was telling the interviewer how “easy” it is to be a christian. As soon as she said that all of us said “what!?” side note here: although it isn’t easy to be a christian it is so much more beneficial. There are still struggles, battles, pain and everything else that life throws your way. The BIG difference is, is there is ONE who has taken that pain and has nailed it to the cross so it CANNOT be a ball and chain to your life. And in that known fact (John 3:16) We have that joy, peace, rest and sound mind in His victory! So, it’s not easy to be a christian it’s just…victorious! “Were not fighting for victory, but from victory”
So, what the Lord has shown me through this man’s answer about the christian life being easy is that. It’s not that it’s easy, it’s just that so many Christians are willing to take the easy road. Look at history, the men and women of faith during the most horrid times in life were out preaching the gospel i.e. C.S. Lewis, Spurgeon, David Brainerd, William Carey, Adoniram Judson, Robert Moffat, Mary Slessor, Hudson Taylor. Look into these men/women’s lives and you’ll see that there lives were not easy, nor lived in vain. There ministry was effective, many came to the saving grace of Jesus, because they were open to the Holy Spirit and committed to taking the narrow road. Praise the Lord for their obedience!
Lord, I pray that You would make us sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and obedient to the work that You have set before us. I pray for those who are not living in the fullness of Your grace, that You would make Your children bold and sensitive to those around us. For the lost to be found in You! In Jesus name Amen.
Amber Jade 