ALL EFFORTS OF WORTH AND EXCELLENCE ARE DIFFICULT MATTHEW 7:13-14 13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy[a] that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. If we are going to live as disciples of Jesus, we have to remember that all efforts of worth and excellence are difficult. The Christian life is gloriously difficult, but its difficulty does not make us faint and cave in—it stirs us up to OVERCOME. Do we appreciate the miraculous salvation of Jesus Christ enough to be our utmost for His highest—our best for His glory? God saves people by His sovereign grace through the atonement of Jesus, and “it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (PHILIPPIANS 2:13). But we have to “work out” that salvation in our everyday, practical living (PHILIPPANS 2:12). If we will only start on the basis of His redemption to do what He commands, then we will find that we can do it. If we fail, it is because we have not yet put into practice what God has placed within us. But a crisis will reveal whether or not we have been putting it into practice. If we will obey the Spirit of God and practice in our physical life what God has placed within us by His Spirit, then when a crisis does come we will find that our own nature, as well as the grace of God, will stand by us. Thank God that He does give us difficult things to do! His salvation is a joyous thing, but it is also something that requires BRAVERY, COURAGE and HOLINESS. IT TESTS US FOR ALL WE ARE WORTH. Jesus is “bringing many sons to glory” (HEBRWS 2:10 , and God will not shield us from the requirements of sonship. God’s grace produces men and women with a strong family likeness to Jesus Christ, not pampered, spoiled weaklings. It takes a tremendous amount of discipline to live the worthy and excellent life of a disciple of Jesus in the realities of life. And it is always necessary for us to make an effort to live a life of worth and excellence. May the Love of our God the Father, and the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all my Dear Beloved Brethren! Blessings, Love & Prayers Sister Daisy Fujita
Posted on: Fri, 04 Jul 2014 22:26:50 +0000