Good day and praise the Lord for another wonderful chance. I was sitting and reflecting on the events of the last couple of months in my life and I got convicted in the spirit for gauging where I am in my spiritual walk by what others think I should be doing. I went back in my archives and I found a message I sent out a few years back that deals with the subject perfectly. My hope is that you will be blessed by this message.
Today’s Prayer
“We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification…Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus; that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God” (Romans 15:1-2, 5-7). God, I pray that I will be strong, and help my brothers and sisters who need help. I pray that I will encouraging and edify the members of the body of Christ. I pray that I will live, work, and worship in one accord; that I will glorify You and be a testimony of Your love and power in this world. I pray that I will receive all Christians; that I will never place myself upon a pedestal or think of myself more highly than another, but that I will remain loving and Christ like in my attitudes and actions each and every day. Please strengthen me, protect me, and guide me that I may be an efficient and functioning member of the body of Christ. Worthy is the Lamb, the Christ, God incarnate Who came to take away the sin of the world. Thank You for allowing me to be forgiven and accepted. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
Let’s eat.
Understanding Our Own Calling
“If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow Me.” – John 21:22
Jesus was talking to Peter after he had just had a very important encounter with Him-one of the last meetings the two would have. This was the third time Jesus had shown Himself to the disciples after His resurrection. It is the famous dialogue between Jesus and Peter in which Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him. Jesus followed by commanding, “Feed My sheep.” Jesus went on to foretell of Peter’s future death. As they were walking together, John was with Peter and Jesus. Peter asked Jesus about John and whether he would die also. Jesus reacted sharply to Peter’s comment, telling him not to worry about what John’s role or purpose was in life. All Peter had to do was worry about fulfilling his own purpose.
As believers we tend to measure our success on whether we have achieved a certain position or stature in life. Even as Christians the temptation to believe that someone is blessed if they have achieved prominence is always confronting us. In His discussion with Peter, Jesus was getting at the very heart of the matter of a person’s calling. Peter was worried about whether his friend John was going to get the same lot in life as he was. Jesus told him it should not be his concern. He was to concern himself only with one thing: his own calling before God.
Are you tempted to compare yourself with where others are in their life? Are you dissatisfied with where God has you right now? Be of good cheer-“[be] confident of this that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6).
Quote of the Day
I urge upon you communion with Christ; a growing communion. There are curtains to be drawn aside in Christ that we never saw, and newfoldings of love in him. I despair that I shall ever win to the far end of that love, there are so many aspects to it. Therefore dig deep, and sweat and labor and take pains for him, and set by as much time in the day for him as you can. We will be won in the labor.
Samuel Rutherford
WITH HOPE AND FAITH
REV. ELDER G E STERRETT
FOUNDER
GCKRS HELPING HAND FOUNDATION – THE RELATIONSHIP FACTORY