But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
--Matthew 6:33
In Matthew chapter 15, we see how the Canaanite women relentlessly pursued Jesus…how her faith in Christ was daring…desperate…and determined.
Which leads me to the question, what does your faith look like today? How relentless are you in your pursuit of Jesus Christ?
Think about that Canaanite woman for a moment. Think about all the obstacles she had to overcome to get to Jesus. She was a social outcast. The religious people of her day had turned their backs on her. More than likely, she was responsible for her daughter being possessed by a demon. And not only that, Jesus didn’t respond to her the first time she called out to Him!
Yet she still came to Jesus. She still pursued Him. She still sought His blessing in her life. And as a result, Jesus said, “O woman, great is your faith!” And forever she is an example in God’s Word of a person of relentless faith.
Maybe today, your kids have turned their backs on you or on God. Maybe your parents are far from God…with no desire to know Him personally. Maybe your friend doesn’t know the Lord and is making all the wrong decisions in life. And maybe Satan is saying to you, “It’s a lost cause! Give up! I’ve got them now!”
Don’t you believe a word of it! Keep running relentlessly to Jesus! Keep crying out to the One who said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Literally, keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking!
Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Trust in this promise today…as you relentlessly pursue Jesus Christ!
Relentlessly pursue Jesus Christ with a daring, desperate and determined faith.
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.”
Luke 19:14–15
George Bernard Shaw is widely regarded as one of the most influential writers of the English language. His dozens of plays and books made a huge impact on society. But Shaw had no use for God or religion, choosing instead to go his own way. It is said that near the end of his life, he was interviewed by a reporter who asked, “Mr. Shaw, if you could live your life over and be anybody you’ve known, or any person from history, who would you be?” “I would choose,” replied Shaw “to be the man George Bernard Shaw could have been, but never was.”
All of us will one day stand before God to give an account of our lives. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). We will be measured not by comparing our lives to what others have done, but by how fully we have lived up to the potential that God entrusted to us to use in His work.
God does not give us talents and abilities solely for our own benefit. Each of us have different levels of gifts and resources, and there is coming a day when we will answer to God for how we have used the time and treasure that are His gifts. We are not free agents but servants and stewards.
Today’s Growth Principle:
If you live today in light of the coming accounting to God, you will not be ashamed when you stand before Him.
|
No comments:
Post a Comment