Even though other texts reference pastors and apostles making a living from the Gospel, for me I feel like it's saying, "live of the gospel". So, what does it mean to live of the gospel? Living from the inside out. Living your life in a way that glorifies God himself. Everytime I read the I Corinthians 9:14 verse, I am reminded of Ephesians 4:1-6, where it talks about living worthy of the calling you (and I) have in Christ. Everytime I think about that, I also think about this verse from I Corinthians 4:
For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. 10 Weare fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! 11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. 12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13 being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.
O how I use to want to be a pastor! How right the man of God was to point me to the Bible and say, it's not as easy as you think it is young lady! Oh, but the joy is in Christ and Christ alone. Does he not know that? (Yes, he did; yet he also knew the hardships and the pains of being a faithful pastor as well.) Do I not know that? I see myself as someone who isn't where I need to be in Christ. Even more so I'm still working toward that place of complete intimacy and love. I want to be where I use to be--- but then God's like, no you don't want to be back in that place because you want to be even farther than where you use to be. It's about time for me to stay on my face before God again. It's about time for me to truly face every lie and every chain. It's time for me to stand in the gap again for my family. No one else will, except Jesus - right now He is pleading for them. So even as Paul warned those at Corinth, I warn you also: life isn't ever going to be easy. Simply put we're in need of God to move in our lives so that even when the flood waters start rising, we will see God lifted up in our lives. I don't know about you, but I'm tired of the "Gentiles" blaspheming God because of me, when I'm suppose to give glory to God. Anyone else with me out there? Yes, I'll stumble; yet, no excuse. Yes, I'll mess up; yet, no excuse. I will do the best I can but the best I can do is simply staying before God in prayer and in love and in intimacy and abandoning every part of me for the glory of God. The truth is simple: I must live of the Gospel- simply by abiding in Chirst and He in me.
Not through just words only- like I'm so use to doing... but seriously being before God for our country, our schools, our workplaces, etc. We need intercessors, preachers, lovers of God, friends of the Great King, and people willing to be sent and to go forth... In the Power of the Holy Spirit and in the Truth of the Gospel.
Live of the Gospel. Not from it. Of it. Understand that Jesus was persecuted and you will be too. When you do, endure it. You will be despised because Christ was also despised, in that bless those who despise you. Do good, not evil. Live out the Gospel. Live of the Gospel. Rather your a pastor or an "ordinary person".
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