
A Planting of Faith Seeds for the Glory of the LORD
I want to know Christ…
It has taken me a lifetime of trial’s and error’s to learn that Paul was right on target when he wrote. “But Christ has shown me that what I once thought was valuable is worthless. Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have given up everything else and count it all as garbage. All I want is Christ and to know that I belong to him. I could not make myself acceptable to God by obeying the Law of Moses. God accepted me simply because of my faith in Christ.” (Philippians 3:7–9, CEV)
Unlike Paul I haven’t reached the point where I’ve given up everything. While I believe the opportunities and things available in the world are valueless when compared to my relationship with Jesus I still have my own hopes and dreams for my life that I continue to cling to. However, because I am firm in my desire to know that I belong to Jesus I continue to struggle to surrender to exchange my hopes and dreams for those of Jesus.
Over the past year or so as the reality of where I am physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually in my life I am beginning to see a profound change for what I wish (what we wish for begins in and is reflected in our hopes and dreams) for my life. It’s not that I am seeing my hopes and dreams as valueless nor as pie-in-the-sky-wishful-thinking what is happening in me is Jesus’ agenda for my life is becoming more valuable. With each passing day Jesus’ hopes and dreams for me as illustrated in his prayer the night of his arrest.
“I am not praying just for these followers. I am also praying for everyone else who will have faith because of what my followers will say about me. I want all of them to be one with each other, just as I am one with you and you are one with me. I also want them to be one with us. Then the people of this world will believe that you sent me… Father, I want everyone you have given me to be with me, wherever I am. Then they will see the glory that you have given me, because you loved me before the world was created.” (John 17:20–21, 24 CEV, emphasis mine)
One of the most valuable lessons in life comes from our own Jesus story. No one’s Jesus story is unimportant while our story may not be as sensational as others because it is Jesus’ story it will have the ability to encourage and impact another in a positive way. When we share our stories with each other we are simply fulfilling Jesus’ prayer, “I am also praying for everyone else who will have faith because of what my followers will say about me.”
Believe it! Experience it!
Grace and PEACE!
Gary
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“Turn to the LORD! He can still be found. Call out to God! He is near.” (Isaiah 55:6, CEV)
Note: Should you want to go back and review this Glory Seed or if you’d like to subscribe so you can receive them in your email you can do so by clicking on this link: http://gloryseeds.wordpress.com/.“Turn to the LORD! He can still be found. Call out to God! He is near.” (Isaiah 55:6, CEV)
Scripture marked CEV are taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
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