Scripture Readings:  

Isaiah 54; 

Colossians 3:1-17.

Pray This Prayer:  

“Dear God, I come to You in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and I ask You to teach me how to live in the victory which You purchased for me on the cross of Calvary. Help me to deal with all those negativities in my life that are not pleasing to You, and which hold me back from living the abundant life You came to give me. I really do want to be an effective and fruitful minister of Your Gospel in my day and generation. In Jesus' name, I pray these things. Amen."

ARE YOU LIVING, OR MERELY EXISTING?

Christian, are you living, or merely existing? Everywhere one turns these days we see and hear of people struggling to get ahead in life (because of all kinds of reasons). Christians should not be living that way. I know that life is not always “a bed of roses,” but I also have learned that life is very much an attitude. And the attitude we adopt in life ~ especially for our own life ~ determines the kind of life that we live. Jesus came into our lives to give us “life and life more abundantly” (John 10:10). In the verses prior to that statement Jesus declared that He is “the door of the sheep” (Christians), and that if we enter by that door we “will be saved, and will go in and out, and find pasture” (v.7-9). When Jesus is Lord of our life, then He leads and guides us in the way of truth, abundant life and good pasture. Good pasture leaves us contented and fulfilled because we know we are being cared for by the very best Person in the whole wide world ~ JESUS! If Jesus has not made a positive difference in our life ~ and caused us to live joyful, outward-looking lives, wanting to impact others for good and for God ~ then there is something wrong with our relationship with Him.

There is an enemy whose aim is to rob us of that abundant life which Jesus gives us! He hates us being in the centre of God’s will, resting in His love, feeding on His Promises, and serving Him in such a way that others can come and find this abundant life too. But Satan is a liar and a loser, and we need to know that. “Greater is He (Jesus) Who is in us, than he (the devil) that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

Jesus never intended for us to merely exist. When He is allowed to have control in our life, then He motivates us to want to do His will.

• There is nothing more exciting, fulfilling and joyful than to know we are actively living right now in the centre of His will.

The Holy Spirit within us makes us outward looking, so that we can fulfil a destiny in Him. If we are not outward looking, and personally motivated to be actively serving God, then, as Christians we are merely existing, and will open ourselves up to all kinds of negative things. Far too many Christians suffer with poor self-image, inferiority, fear, depression, etc., and those things rob us of that abundant life that Jesus came to give us. We cannot be filled with the Holy Spirit and simply do nothing! Why do I say this? Because the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is God’s power for service ~ and service is action (Acts 1:8)!

• Do you know what God has called you to do in this hour?

Let me encourage you today, Christian, if you are not actively involved in some kind of Christian ministry, why not seriously consider offering your time to one that is reaching out to a lost generation with the life-giving message of Jesus and His love? Be actively involved! (Ask the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you in this ~ you might be surprised who He is already using in your area).

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

I have been actively involved in the work of the Lord for 50 years, and I am still as motivated today as I was way back at the beginning. I have discovered that Jesus does mean what He says, and when we commit ourselves to His Word and the doing of His will, then His promises will motivate us with an excitement through being involved with that which is dear to His heart. More than that, we get to know and experience the truth and power of that life more abundant!