Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher.
He never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put His foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself...
While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. While He was dying His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth – His coat. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.
Nineteen long centuries have come and gone, and today He is a centerpiece of the human race and leader of the column of progress.
I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that were ever built; all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that one solitary life.
Omnia possum in eo qui me confortat. I can do all things in Him who strengthens me. (Phil 4:13). These words are engraved on a bracelet which I wear. Do we really believe this? Or do we let others define who we are?
Issue the battle cry! Let's take back our cities!
Those who walk in the Spirit know no fear. What are we waiting for? The Lord Jesus waits. He grows tired of our excuses:
I’m not holy enough:
Is 6:1-9; Lk 5:1-11
I’m afraid I will fail:
Ex 14:10-31; Lk 15
I’ve made mistakes and I’m a sinner:
Jn 21:15-23; Mt 9:9-13; Lk 7:36-50
I’m too young:
1 Sam 3:1-18; Jer 1:4-10; Lk 1:26-38
I’m not talented enough:
1 Sam 17:32-51; Lk 1:26-38
I want to have a family:
Gn 12:1-3; Mt 12:46-50; Mk 10:28-30
I’m afraid of making a permanent commitment:
Ruth 1:15-17; Mt 28:16-20
I’m afraid of public speaking:
Ex 4:10-17; Jer 1:4-10
I’m not smart enough:
2 Cor 4:7-18; Ex 4:10-17
I’m afraid of being alone:
Ex 3:4-22; Lk 1:28-38
I want to be happy:
Ps 37:4; Mt 5:1-12; Jn 10:10; Mk 10:28-31
I can do all things in Him who strengthens me. There are no obstacles we can't overcome in His holy name. Even while others attempt to label us and dismiss us as useless, as having no worth. I knew a young man with developmental disabilities whose father told him he was "worthless." He was told by his father that the best thing for him would be a bullet in the head. When he asked me one day if he was worthless, I reminded him of his many gifts: his sense of humor, his ability to love others, his ability to pray to God and a litany of other gifts. And I assured him that he is not "worthless."
We live in a sad, broken world. There are many people who are heavily burdened with sin who are hurting. And because they are hurting, they want to hurt others. If you could read some of the comments which have been left at this Blog you would cringe. Sad time. Hurting time. And we pray for such people.
But we cannot let others define who we are. We are children of God who have access to the Holy Spirit's Gifts just by asking for them.
The Son of God loves us. What does that suggest about those who hate us?
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