The Lord said to Ananias, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying…Go, for HE IS A CHOSEN VESSEL OF MINE to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.” (Acts 9:11, 15) Now remember Paul (Saul, before he got saved) was an enemy of Christians AMY, he said, “…when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by CONSENTING TO HIS DEATH, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.” (Acts 22:20)
When the Lords chooses us into His service AMY, our past is insignificant to Him, why? Because God can RADICALLY CHANGE US from what we are now, “…if anyone is in Christ, HE IS A NEW CREATION; old things have PASSED AWAY; behold, all things HAVE BECOME NEW.” (2 Corin. 5:17) Paul explains to us that , “…the LOVE OF CHRIST 1COMPELS US, Since we believe that CHRIST DIED FOR ALL, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live SHOULD LIVE NO LONGER FOR THEMSELVES, BUT FOR HIM who died for them and rose again.” (2 Corin. 5:14-15) 1sunechō: to hold together. Christs love “holds us together” so we can do whatever He calls us to do. Because, “…with God nothing will be impossible.” (Luke 1:37)
Jesus is the way the truth and the life. Our believing in him leads us to eternal joy. But faith is not sufficient in itself. It must be LIVED OUT IN A WAY THAT IT REFLECTS GOD’S LOVE in our lives. We need to be willing to live our lives with integrity AMY, with compassion, and a willingness to witness and identify ourselves as true followers of Jesus. What will we do to make it clear to others that we are a believer?
WHAT WILL WE DO SO THAT OTHERS MIGHT SEE GOD’S LOVE IN OUR LIVES?
-Bill Stockham