Let's get dirty...

May 8:

Living a Life that Matters…

Philippians 1:27-30

Meanwhile, live in such a way that you are a credit to the Message of Christ. Let nothing in your conduct hang on whether I come or not. Your conduct must be the same whether I show up to see things for myself or hear of it from a distance. Stand united, singular in vision, contending for people’s trust in the Message, the good news, not flinching or dodging in the slightest before the opposition. Your courage and unity will show them what they’re up against: defeat for them, victory for you—and both because of God. There’s far more to this life than trusting in Christ. There’s also suffering for him. And the suffering is as much a gift as the trusting. You’re involved in the same kind of struggle you saw me go through, on which you are now getting an updated report in this letter.

In our country we rarely need to be courageous… we rarely get our hands dirty... or suffer for the cause of Christ. We’ve even created an environment within the walls of our churches where we don’t have to be brave in sharing our faith. Instead we bring our friends & family to a church service or event that will ‘minister’ to them. Now please don’t misunderstand me, I’m not knocking the importance of our local church. I’m just wondering… if we truly stood ‘united, singular in vision’ to take the same amount of time we spend inside the church walls to share the gospel of Jesus on the outside… what a different view those on the outside might have of the Church.

Let's get out there! 

& do work! 

 "The tests of the Christian life; though outwardly not so terrible, are even more likely to overcome us than those of the fiery age. We have to bear the sneer of the world-that is little. It's the soft words; its oily speeches & its hypocrisy are far worse. Our danger is that we grown rich & proud; give in to the fashions of this present world & lose our faith. Or if wealth is not the trial, worldly care causes difficulty... the devil cares little witch it is, as long as he destroys our love for & confidence in Christ. We must be awake now, for we walk on dangerous ground. We are most likely to fall asleep to our undoing unless our faith in Jesus is a reality & our love for Him a fervent flame." -Charles Spurgeon