THE "PRIZE"

The Christian life was never promised as an easy way to live, instead the Word of God constantly reminds us that we must have a purpose and a plan because things will be difficult and Satan will attack when we least expect. But we never persevere without the promise of a prize - a promise God will keep! Here is our plan of how we can sustain our Christian life to win that prize.

THE PURPOSE: winning a race requires purpose and discipline which illustrates our Christian life (takes hard work), self-denial, and gruelling preparation. As Christians, we are running toward our heavenly reward and the essential disciplines of prayer, Bible study, and worship equip us to run with vigour and stamina. We should not merely observe from the grandstand, just turn out to jog a couple of laps each morning, but instead we must train diligently because our spiritual progress depends on it. At times we must even give up something good in order to do what God wants. Each and everyone's special duties determine the discipline and denial we must accept. Without a goal, discipline is nothing but self-punishment. With a goal of pleasing God, our denial seems like nothing compared to the eternal (incorruptible) reward that awaits us.

THE PLAN: In our Christian life we battle against "principalities and powers". To withstand their attacks, we must depend on God's strength and use every piece of His armour. These are not "flesh and blood" are demons over whom Satan has control. They are not mere fantasies, they are very real. As Christians we face a very powerful army whose goal is to defeat Christ's church. When we believe in Christ and join His church, these beings become our enemies, and they try every device to turn us away from Christ and back to sin. Although we are assured of victory, we must engage in the struggle until Christ comes, because Satan is constantly battling against all of us who are on the Lord's side. The supernatural power to defeat Satan has been provided for us by God in His Holy Spirit within us and His armour surrounding us.

THE PRIZE: We are free to choose between life and death and yet God has chosen us (we are His "elect"). This is a mystery our finite minds cannot easily grasp. But even if we do not completely understand it, we can still choose Jesus and be grateful that He has chosen us. God is faithful to us His children and although we may suffer great hardships here, He promise that someday we will live eternally with Him. It means we as believers will live in Christ’s' Kingdom, and share in the administration of that Kingdom. Are you facing hardships?? I edge you not to turn away from God because He has promised you and l a wonderful future with Him. Jesus will stay by our side even when we have endured so much that we seem to have no faith left. We may be faithless at times, but Jesus remains faithful to His promise to be with us always, "even unto the end of the World" and only one thing can break our communication with God. If we turn against Him and refuse His help!!!


By Enyonam Gbekle. All rights reserved 2014
 

JOYOUS REWARD

"Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,  then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,  not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." Philippians 2:1-4


Many people even Christians live only to make a good impression on others or to please ourselves. When we're concerned only for ourselves, seeds of discord are sown. As friends and Christ lovers, l stress spiritual unity to love one another and work together with one heart and purpose “being of one accord and of one mind".

When we work together, caring for the problems of others as if they were our own, we demonstrate Christ's example of putting others first, and we create unity. Let’s not be so concerned about making a good impression or meeting our own needs that we may strain relationships with others. We must feel and show kindness and affectionate sympathy to others.

As we are all from so many different backgrounds and walks of life, it might be difficult to maintain unity at times. But being bounded together in Christ, makes it possible for us to have this unity showing the outside world its possible regardless what our differences might be in the eyes of others.

Jesus is not only equal to God He is God. Though He is God He became man in order to fulfil God's plan of salvation for us. He did not just pretend to have a man's body - He actually became a man to identify with man's sins. He voluntarily laid aside His divine rights and privileges out of love for us and out of trust and obedience to His Father. He died on the cross for our sins, so we wouldn't have to face eternal death. Jesus Christ was humble, willing to give up His rights in order to obey God and serve us. Like Christ, we must serve out of love not out of guilt or fear.

We often excuse selfishness, pride, or evil by claiming our rights. As children of God, we should have an attitude just like Jesus Christ. One that enables us to lay aside our rights in order to serve others selflessly. If we say we follow Christ, we must live as He lived. We should develop the attitude of humility as we serve, even when we are not likely to get recognition for our efforts.

Are you selfishly clinging to your rights, or are you willing to serve selflessly? When we are totally committed to serving Christ; sacrifice for the faith of others is indeed a JOYOUS REWARD!!!


By Enyonam Gbekle. All rights reserved 2014.