There is a parable that tells the story of an arrow. Once it is placed in the bow, the rather it is drawn back, the strong it is projected forward. The same could be said for us as Christians. Sin sets us back, but the father we stretch ourselves, as hard and as much as it can hurt, it is that much farther that we can be projected forward for the Glory of God.
If I put all my sins on a billboard for everyone to see, many would ask how I ever became a missionary. From drunkenness to lust to lies and deception, I have fallen short of the Glory of God.
How could they ever let a _____ like her onto the mission field?
There is only one answer for that: GRACE.
“Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God’s grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily. Galatians 2:21 MSG
Vulnerability is one of the hardest things to learn, but one of the most rewarding things to do. Airing out your ‘dirty laundry’ to those closest to you is a way for you to bring light to the dark places of your life. Sometimes that means admitting the hard stuff, like addictions you may have, or laying down your pride. One of my biggest lessons I have learned thus far is that as hard as it may be to stretch that bow back, the launch is that much more powerful when you bear through it.
Many times, as Christians, we find ourselves seeking the Lord on what is going to happen next in our lives, all the while missing out on what God is doing in our lives in the present. If you are single, you wonder when God will give you a spouse. If you are married, you wonder when you will become parents. When you are parents you wonder when you will be able to get your dream house. While all of these things are good, when you begin to put your hope in things, instead of in the Lord, that is where the problem lies. If you are not content with God and who you are in Him you will not be content with anything in life.
Putting your hope in what is going to happen in the future, weather that be next week or next year, steals away the blessing of what God has for you in the moment. Trust that God has you exactly where He wants you. It may not be easy, and you may not have the answers you want, but believe that today is shaping you for tomorrow.
“Righteousness is a gift, not to be understood but to simple believe” -Unknown
Anxiety, fear, jealous, pride, all of these things can creep into your life and quickly take a hold of your thoughts if you are not careful. In order to keeps our minds on Christ we must shift our eyes from the things of this world to the things of Christ. We must replace fear with peace, anger with joy, and jealousy with grace.
‘So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ – that’s where the action is. See things from His perspective.’ Col 3:1-2
Shift your eyes from this world, from the American dream, and knock on the door of the throne room of Christ. He has a perfect plan, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Don’t get caught up in the details of life, being anxious for what the next season of life holds for you. Take every day as it comes, and thank God He has called you ‘His’.
