Nancy Taylor Tate
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” Ephesians 2:10.
Billy Graham once said, “Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil – it has no point.” In Christ, we not only know who we are, we have a purpose today and a destiny, an expectation for all of eternity.
In 1 Peter 1:23, we understand we are born again of an incorruptible seed, by the word of God. Then, as we begin in our new walk with the Lord, we are to mature and grow (1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18).
Through the choices I make, a process of sanctification begins. That which is not like Christ begins to fall away as I receive His enabling grace in my life. When I choose the Lord and His ways, I am changed, until it is no longer my old nature ruling my life, but now Christ within (Galatians 2:20).
We are excited when God works in our lives during pleasant times! But it is sometimes hard to see anything of value during difficult times, or even to maintain a right attitude so our lives can be a testimony to others, without an understanding of the working of the Lord and this process of transformation.
As I yield to the Lord in every season, submitting myself to Him and His inner working, Christ is interceding for me, and I have the promise of a “working together for good” that I might be conformed into the image of His Son (Ephesians 2:10; Romans 8:26-29; 2 Peter 1:4). To know this, gives me strength and comfort and adds meaning to what otherwise might seem futile or mundane.
Though at times we see only our present circumstances, as we learn to live from an eternal perspective, we can find rest in the fact that “it is God which worketh in (me) both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).
If we have made Him Lord of our lives, we are in His hands! As we continue to submit our lives to Him, and yield, allowing His working to take place inside us, we are strengthened to stand, for come what may, our hope, faith, trust, and destiny is in Him.
“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusteth in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song I will praise him” Psalm 28:7.
2 Corinthians 3:3 speaks of our calling to be “epistles of Christ,” written with the spirit of the living God. Again, our lives are the only Bible some people will ever see! It’s not God’s will that any should perish.
God has always had a witness! As carriers of His presence and reflectors of His truth, today we have the privilege of sharing Him with others through our lives, even when our words cannot speak.
The Lord is raising up a people who in every circumstance have the grace to “be” a witness and a testimony unto Him (Acts 1:8). Even in the midst of great darkness, His glory is shining forth through an overcoming people who have put their trust in Him.
As Christ showed forth the glory of the Father even in the midst of great darkness, may we too show forth His glory as an overcoming, end time people, appointed and anointed to be carriers of His presence; ordained to be faithful witnesses unto Him in our day. A people who are not just hearers, but doers of His word; a people through whom Christ in all His power and glory can move today (Isaiah 60:1-2).
2 Thessalonians 1:10 speaks of Christ coming back “to be admired in His saints.” Paul speaks of this as a great mystery, that which had been hid, but is now made manifest to the Lord’s people. This is our calling! Our hope! Our joy! (Colossians 1:26-27).
A verse the National Day of Prayer task force chose one year is an admonition and encouragement to each one of us as we continue on, day by day, in our daily lives. They chose it in light of all that has gone on in the past and all that is happening today. What a wonderful word of advice and encouragement to each one of us!
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” Colossians 2:6-7 NIV.
May this be our posture as we continue on in our walk with the Lord, being faithful in those things He has called us to do.