The Apostolic Mission, Founded on Faith, Hope, & Love: The Attributes of God Himself
In the same way that God the
Father sent and ordained His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus
Christ, “to preach the gospel to the poor, to heal the
brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and
recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are
bruised, and to preach the acceptable year of the Lord,” so has He
sent those who choose to follow faithfully in Christ’s footsteps.
Jesus Christ gave up everything to obey His Father’s calling, and
those who choose to follow Christ will be required to do likewise.
If we have been called to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God,
we must ask ourselves, “Are we willing to pay the price?”
The cost is indeed great, but the rewards are greater still, in
this life and in the life to come. In the words of one preacher,
“To be a follower of Christ will cost you everything; not to be a
follower of Christ will cost you a whole lot more!” Will we pay the
price or will we not? That is the question. It will require us to
lay down our lives for our friends and to love our enemies as
ourselves.
1) Where will we find the resolve to do this?
2) How will we preserver during the hard times?
3) How will we put our hands to the plough and not turn back?
There are three answers to these three questions and they are one
in the same.
1) Through “faith that works through love,”
2) through “the love of Christ that constrains us,” and
3) through “the love of God that has been shed abroad in our hearts
by the Holy Spirit.” “God is love.” Paul tells us, “Love is
patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is
not proud, it is not rude, it is not self seeking; love is not
easily angered, and it keeps no records of wrongs. Love rejoices
not in iniquity, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all
things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails.” We are called to bring God’s love to a world in
need, and it is the love of God that bears us up upon His own wings
and enables us to do so. Praise His Holy Name!
I have
spent a good deal of my time and energy warning Christian believers
about the importance of remaining faithful to Christ, and the
consequences of failing to do so, because I am a exhorter in the
Body of Christ. But, if the truth be known, this is an utter
impossibility without a revelation of Christ’s faithfulness to us!
It is only His love and faithfulness revealed to us, in us, and
through us that can cause us to love and be faithful to Him, our
families, the Church, and His human creation. When we are dead in
our trespasses and sins, His love revives us. When we are blinded
by self-centeredness, His love enlightens us. When we are tempted
by Satan, His love sustains us. “God is love,” compassion, and
mercy and it is in Him alone that we have hope. We can rejoice in
this, however, because it is a hope that acts as a steadfast anchor
to our souls, and it will see us through the storms of this life to
the peaceful shores of the next life. “Now abide faith, hope, and
love, these three, but the greatest of these is love.” “Greater is
He that is in you, than he that is in the world.” When we are
forced through dire circumstances to reach down deep within, that
is where we will find Him. Jesus promised, “In the world you will
have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
“And this is that which overcomes the world, even your faith.” “I
will never leave you nor forsake you.” “All authority in heaven and
on earth has been given unto Me, Go therefore and make disciples of
all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Spirit teaching them to obey all that I have
commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the
age.” “Love never fails.” Amen!
