How do you share all of the good that God is doing in your life?
Unfortunately, many of us believers - or better yet, FOLLOWERS (even the devil, Satan, and his demons believe in Jesus) - struggle with talking openly about the power of a changed life and living in Christ.
So that begs this question: am I a believer or a follower of Jesus Christ? A believer is not necessarily a follower, but a follower is a believer. Jesus Himself warned against denying Who He is. This is how Jesus put it: “I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven." Luke 12:9.
As a follower, we should be sharing all of what our Savior has done in our lives. For me it is much, even though I am traversing a very dark time in my life. Jesus leads and carries me through. Some days are harder than others, yet His Grace finds me and carries me.
Here's the reason for every single follower to share his or her pain and victory: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16. We are to speak the Gospel of Christ into the world that God has placed us.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ
Speaking and proclaiming the Gospel of Christ is a command, not a suggestion. The Gospel is just that, it is "good news". But good news about what? What is the Gospel of Christ? In case you don't have it down, here it is in its components: God created all that we can see and experience for His glory. God created human beings (you and me) in His image for His glory (out of all that has been created, mankind alone is created in the Image of God. Genesis 1:26-27.). We (that means everyone; no one except Jesus) sinned and continue to do so whether by commission or omission. "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way." Isaiah 53:6a. We humans are completely incapable of redeeming ourselves to God. That's the "bad" news side of the Gospel.
Here's the good news; the really good news! Jesus is the Son of God as God Himself who alone is able to redeem our fallen nature and restore the broken relationship of Creator and creature. Jesus physically came to earth and lived being tempted every day as we are but lived a perfect earthly life. Jesus fulfilled every prophecy set forth about Him in the Old Testament demonstrating His divinity and Lordship over time and even history. Jesus physically suffered and died on the Cross as a full - and only acceptable - atonement for your sins and mine (exactly who killed Him, whether Roman or Jew or other is irrelevant, all of us killed Jesus by our sins). The writer of Hebrews tells us: "Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin." Hebrews 4:14-15. Jesus was bodily raised from the dead three days later by the power of the Holy Spirit and is now seated with the Father in heaven intervening on our behalf every minute of every day. "the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms," Ephesians 1:19-20. The Bible goes on to affirm the fact that those of us who choose to believe in Jesus and accept Him as our personal Lord and Savior of our lives will be saved to spend eternity in the presence of God. "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:6-7. Those who don't submit themselves to God's grace condemn themselves to an eternity in hell separated from God (God doesn't send people to hell, people refuse God and what He's done and send themselves).
That is the Gospel, the Good News, of Jesus Christ.
The bottom line.
You see, it's not about you. It's not about me or your BFF or the even the most influential person on the planet. It is, however, all about God. God is One Who is reaching out for us! God is the One Who wants an eternal relationship with us. Our problem as humans is that we don't meet, nor can meet, His standard of holiness and perfection. There is NOTHING we can do. That's why there is Jesus, Emanuel, God with us, God coming after His creation, God coming after all of us sinful, dirty and diseased people. He's the one who cleans us up and restores the relationship. We can't. We're incapable. The wise King Solomon wrote: "Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins." Ecclesiastes 7:19.
All of that is done by and through the power of Grace. We alone don't and can't merit eternal life with God...that is His free gift to us, His creation. The only part we have in God's story (and it is a big part) is acknowledging our sinfulness, accepting His offer of forgiveness through Grace, then receiving that forgiveness. The hard part comes in living out what and who God called you and me to do! But if we are willing, He is more than able. Jesus is all we need... now, today, tomorrow and forever.
So how do we find God's will for our lives? Read the Bible each day - and not just a verse or two, get into His Word for the purpose of KNOWING God, Who He is and what His will (rather than your will) is for your life... anything less is less. Read, pray and obey.
The obey part is where I struggle. Especially when it comes to trusting. Yes, God has done great and wonderful things in and through my life, but I still struggle with trusting Him. Would you pray specifically that I would simply trust and obey Him more?
Jesus never promised a life of ease. Jesus did promise trial and tribulation. Jesus also promised eternal life to those who believe and follow. “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.” Luke 18:29-30. Jesus said that His yoke is easy and that we should take it on. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30. Jesus said that He will wipe away every tear from our eye. “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Revelations 21:3-5
Most of that is to come! And all of that is truly Good News. All of that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
For now, rest and trust in Jesus. He's our only answer and the answer for our family and friends.
Finally, live in His power and Grace. We ourselves certainly don't have it! Breathe in His grace and power...breathe out His love and praise, to His glory, not ours.
Matt Redman, "Your Grace Finds Me"
