Readings: Psalm 110; Titus 2:11-14
I grew up on a farm that is located in the small community of Miccosukee, which is right outside of Tallahassee, Florida. I attended college at Florida State University and commuted the 20 miles each day to and from school. During one of my commutes home, I had a car accident that in the end totaled my car and left my left shoulder with arthritis that is very painful from time to time. When the pain flares up, I have a hard time focusing on anything else but the pain.This is how it is with our lives when we are in this world that is full of pain. Yet, as Christians, we are called to bring glory to our Lord and for me to do so means I must focus on Jesus. I must focus on putting on His nature even through the pain of this world. Psalm 110 gives us a full picture of our Messiah and His reign in heaven as well as earth. He sits at the right hand of God the Father waiting for the Father to continue the work He has set for Him. Jesus has already conquered sin and through this triumph He has already won the battle. Yet, the Father has set an order for the way things must take place so others will be brought to the saving knowledge of Christ. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that these plans include a role for all believers. Believers have been called to be like Christ and to do so we must focus on His reign and what it means to us in our lives. We have been called to reflect Him in this world that is hurting and the Father has clothed us to do so through His Salvation and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
What do these mean to us when we are struggling to survive and struggling to keep our head up? How are these going to help us? To say it simply, they help us tremendously. It is by the Holy Spirit that we have the Spirit of the One and Only Living God. The Holy Spirit is Who gives us the capacity to reflect Christ in this world. His character has been given to us at full capacity and we must allow Him to shine through us. His love, joy, peace . . . all are available to each and every believer!!
Yet, allowing the Holy Spirit to shine is the struggle we have the most and that is where I feel we must reflect upon our salvation and what it means to us. Many times our past hinders us from glorifying the Lord in this world of pain because we let it. We may focus on things in our past and think we can’t do the good works we have been called to do. We are too wretched of a soul for God to use. However, wasn’t it for this reason that Christ died for us?!? Didn’t He do so to save us all because we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:22-24). Our reading in Titus tells us that Christ gave Himself to redeem us from the wickedness of this world; purifying us for Himself. It continues to say that while we wait for Christ to return we should be eager to do good works. Whether good or bad, our past should never be a measure for our future. Don’t let the pain of this world get you off focus from your mission for Christ. For as believers we have been called to good works that glorify God while we look forward to our blessed hope.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I struggle to live in this world full of pain. I struggle to allow You to shine in my life because I allow the pain to take my focus off Jesus. Guide me to renew myself in You and remember Your salvation that has purified me to good works. May Your Holy Spirit work through me so others can see Jesus! Amen.
