Are You A Burden Bearer?…
Carrying Someone’s Burden (Galatians 6:2) Galatians 6:2, Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. There is no shortage of people in need. Have you ever been so busy in life that you missed the opportunity to do something big in the life of another? We all need help and we are all helpers—that’s part of being human. But what does it look like to help each other well? The people who help best are people who both need help and give help—being able to share their burdens and to bear the burdens of others. In many cities in the Middle East, carriages or carts were not allowed to enter the city gates, so porters usually had to carry heavy loads on their backs. These men were often chosen from among the poor and were forced to spend long days and nights in back-breaking labor. Often, two porters would walk side-by-side and take turns relieving each other. So when Jesus told those who were “heavy-laden” to come to Him for rest-it was a clear illustration of an everyday struggle (Matthew 11:28). When Paul encouraged the Galatian church to “bear one another’s burdens,” (Galatians 6:2), it was more than a spiritual truth-it was a way for Christians to practically live out their faith. Walking alongside someone who is going through hardship means making time for that person, maybe at a child’s ball game, or at church, or over coffee, or during a small group meeting. It means having conversations that go beneath the surface, hearing what’s on his or her heart, and praying for and together with the person. As people who are needed, we can ask to hear our friend’s story. The better you know other people, the more you enjoy, appreciate, pray with, and love them. And the more you love them, the more they will invite you into their lives in times of hardship. Problems are complex, and there will be times when limits to our human gifts, abilities, and experience create the need for co-helpers. Maybe today you can do something to help lighten someone’s load. Think of someone who is hurting in your church or your community-and think of a way you can do something practical that will help them. Bearing other’s burdens is sometimes more than kind words and sweet notes. It’s rolling up your sleeves and doing something positive to affect their lives. If we are not willing to help others with their problems, then we have no one to whom we can minister. I want to encourage you today to be sensitive to the needs of others who are around you. When you go to church, go to work, or even spend time with your family and friends, ask the Holy Spirit to help you see when people are carrying too much by themselves. If you discern that they are burdened, go to them and ask, How can I pray for you today? What is happening in your life? God may use you to bring real relief and freedom into someone’s situation. Perhaps just providing a listening ear is all that is needed to help that person get through his or her dilemma. On the other hand, if an overwhelming problem, weakness, habit, or sin is pressing down on your life, you need to be humble enough to say, Hey, I need someone to pray with me! This is too much for me to do completely by myself! It may be difficult for you to open your heart and reveal your need, but it will be far more difficult for you to carry it alone until you eventually become emotionally devastated by that burden. As brothers and sisters in the Lord, we need to do everything we can to step deeply into people’s lives in order to encourage and refresh them spiritually and to help them get through their problems. When we see someone struggling, we must be bold enough to ask that person how we can help! When we work together as a Body in this way, every need will be addressed and met! 1. Have there been situations in your life when you thought you might break under the weight you were trying to carry by yourself? When that happened, did anyone come to you and ask how he or she might help or pray for your needs? 2. Have you ever gone to others to see how you could help them through the situations they were enduring? Or have you been too self-consumed to remember that other people have needs too? 3. Do you know of individuals you should check on today to see what you can do to help them through a situation they are facing? In what ways can you be a strength or an encouragement to them? Prayer, Lord, I am asking You to help me be sensitive to the needs of other people. Help me to stop being so self-consumed with my own concerns that I am negligent in recognizing the needs of people around me who need help and prayer. Holy Spirit, help me see through the masks people tend to wear to cover up what is really happening in their lives. Give me the wisdom to know how to approach people who need strength and encouragement. I pray this in Jesus’ name! Amen. If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com
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Spiritual Bodyguard (Psalm 121)
Psalm 121, describes our God as One Who is a present help every step of the way we travel. Gaining help from God involves seeking help from Him. The psalm begins with the psalmist seeking help from God for his troubles and trials. God is always with us, guiding us every step of the way. God has promised to provide stability and security for those walking in the center of His will (Psalm 16:8; 55:22; 91:1-4). Six times we are reminded that the Lord is able to take care of every problem we encounter (Psalm 121:3-8). None of the things that happen to you, none of the troubles you encounter, have any power to get between you and God, sap His grace in you, or side track His will for you (Romans 8:28, 31-32). God’s children are always under His protection and watchful care (I Peter 1:5; Matthew 10:30-31). God guards our spiritual well-being from the time we receive Christ’s forgiveness and entrust our lives to Him until the time we leave this life to be with God forever. From justification (Romans 5:9) to the time of your glorification with the saints in heaven (I Corinthians 15:51-54), you are safe: " The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil." Even while we sleep, God is on duty. We can rest in peace because He is always awake. Our great Protector never sleeps. Our spiritual bodyguard is always on duty. What a blessed assurance! The thought is how that our God is never drowsy, nor goes to sleep on the job. He is always there for the protection of His people. That was true for Israel when they were in the center of God’s will. It remains true for Christians in the center of His will. There is a great benefit in serving God and living our lives for Him. It means the providential protection of God is always at hand. When God saves our soul, He then preserves our salvation. It is He who keeps us and not ourselves. It is He who is our spiritual preservation. The only serious mistake we can make when illness comes, when anxiety threatens, when conflict disturbs our relationships with others, is to begin to entertain the thought that God has gotten bored looking after us and has shifted His attention to a more devoted Christian. God’s desire and interest in us never waxes or wanes in response to our spiritual temperature. As you learn to trust in the LORD for direction it will take care of your proneness to wander wayward from His holy standards. It will keep you honest and pure in every professional and social contact. It will keep you mindful of the One to whom you belong and who serve. It will guard you from many wrong steps in life where God’s name is debased and dishonored. PRAYER: Father in Heaven, at this time in my life, the struggles I’m facing (whether: physical, financial, social, etc.) I ask You to intervene in this situation. Right now, I don’t see a way out of it, but I know Heaven is my eternal home. The pains of this world are only for a season, but the joys of spending forever with You can never be taken away from me. Rather than staring down at life’s problems, help me to keep looking up to You for strength. In Jesus name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com One Way (John 10:9)
John 10:9, I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The key truth is that Jesus is the door to salvation. There is no other way. Because of Jesus, we have access to God. The famous magician and escape artist, Houdini, could get out of any set of handcuffs, or any straight jacket that was ever placed upon him. In fact, he could release himself from almost any enclosure in less than one minute. Only once did Houdini fail. That incident occurred when he was touring the British Isles. Arriving at a small town, he agreed to demonstrate his ability by escaping from the local jail. The cell door was so ordinary looking that he smiled at the simplicity of the task. When given the signal, he used his terrific speed and agility to try to pick the lock. Unfortunately, he was unable to pick that lock. In frustration, he frantically tried every device he knew to pick the door, but nothing happened. He worked feverishly for two more hours, but to no avail. Finally, being completely exhausted, he fell against the door and lamented in defeat. Immediately, however, the door sprang open. His frustration had been due to the fact that the door had never been locked at all. How frequently, by a similar strategy, Satan has deceived poor sinners who are seeking to find a way to open the door of God's salvation. People work, cry, fret, sweat, and pray, trying in every way possible to bring release to their captive souls. Yet, it is only when sinners fall exhausted from their own efforts, and rest against "The Door," the Lord Jesus Christ, that they find the immediate release they so desperately seek. There are no alternatives and no options to salvation—it must come through Jesus Christ. John 14:6, Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. A traveler engaged a guide to take him across a desert area. When the two men arrived at the edge of the desert, the traveler, looking ahead, saw before him trackless sands without a single footprint, path, or marker of any kind. Turning to his guide, he asked in a tone of surprise, "Where is the road?" With a reproving glance, the guide replied, "I am the road." So, too, is the Lord our way through unfamiliar territory. He is the way! He is the only way to God. There is no other way. For there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). Dear friend, if you want to go to the Father’s house, to Heaven, you must come through “the Door”, the Lord Jesus. He is the only way! PRAYER: Father in Heaven, Thank You for Jesus, Who laid down His life for me so that I might live with You forever. In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Peace Rather Than Panic (Proverbs 3:25-26)
Proverbs 3:25-26, Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken. Many people panic when they're faced with severe problems. We can't escape many of the problems in our lives, but we have been given the ability to control our reaction to the problems we face. Our reaction to problems is much more important than the problems themselves. Two people can face the same problem—one person can react calmly with faith in God while the other person panics. The range of our emotions is a clear indication of maturity. Our Father wants us to learn to yield our emotions to Him. Our Father wants us to learn to react calmly to the problems we face because we trust Him to solve the problems, we can't solve ourselves. Safety is not found in avoiding danger but in obeying God. People whose lives revolve around themselves believe they have to solve every problem with human ability. Our Father says we shouldn't panic when we're in the midst of the storms of life. He wants us to remain calm because we trust completely in Him (Proverbs 3:25-26). Crises and trouble do arise in life. However, for the people of God possessing godly wisdom, the command is to fear not. When we dwell in the secret place of the most High and possess godly wisdom and discretion in life, God will be our confidence and guard. He will not suffer the righteous to be moved. The wise person, the one who has embraced wisdom (which includes embracing Christ as Saviour, Who is our wisdom) (I Corinthians 1:30; Colossians 2:3), does not and should not fear what the unsaved fear. Wisdom is not to fear when folly is judged. Wisdom has hope ("the Lord shall be thy confidence") that folly does not have. This hope enables wisdom not to fear. When we lack peace, we should view that as a reminder to focus on God rather than on our circumstances. Panic also stops us from hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit wants us to keep the focus to Him open. He doesn't want us to block this channel with negative emotions such as fear, worry, doubt and unbelief. We should never allow ourselves to be discouraged by the problems we face. Nothing good ever comes from discouragement. This word means lack of courage. Romans 15:5, Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus. God’s Word instructs us how to live our lives and gives us the encouragement we must have to hold fast to God's promises, refusing to give up hope. PRAYER: Father in Heaven, help me to respond to my problems with calm, quiet confidence in the Lord instead of panicking. In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com God is Faithful and Satan is Frustrated (Deuteronomy 7:9; James 4:7)
God is Faithful (Deuteronomy 7:9) Deuteronomy 7:9, Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; God is holy and just and faithful. Holiness is His fundamental attribute, and Christians should emulate Him and live pure lives. Today God continues to pour out His blessings on us. Opportunities are opening for the ministry globally. Churches are being planted around the world. People are coming to the Lord. Souls are being won to Christ all over the world. Particularly people in Muslim countries. All of this we couldn't possibly orchestrate on our own without Him. God's doing it and we get to have a part in His work. Satan is Frustrated (James 4:7) James 4:7, Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. The existence of a personal Devil is scoffed at by many, and doubted by more. Modernists believe evil exists, but not an “evil one.” Satan is often regarded as an impersonal force, an imagination, a medieval invention designed to scare people into the “church,” or an excuse on which to blame our shortcomings. None of these are so, for the Bible clearly teaches the existence of a personal, malevolent, evil one, the Devil. It is the duty of each Christian ‘soldier’ to know as much about his, or her, adversary as possible II Corinthians 2:11. Ignorance on this subject is a dangerous thing. Satan knows his time is short. As a result, Satan scratches and claws. As the ministry impacts more lives, he roars. I John 4:4, Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. We have deepened our prayer life, helped each other resolve stress, and kept our eyes fixed on Christ. Christ destroyed the works of Satan in I John 3:8, He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. This means He has frustrated, or undone, the works of the Devil. Those in Christ can overcome Satan and live fruitful, productive lives. According to the following Scriptures, Christ sealed Satan’s doom on the cross (Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:14; John 16:11). We are on the victory side! PRAYER: Father, lead me in this spiritual warfare to stand strong and never surrender. Help me to be wise to Satan’s snares and his temptations. Direct my steps that I may not get sidetracked in pursuing Your will and work. I ask that You would confound the devil and give me courage in times of testing. I know that You are with me and that You will never forsake or fail me. In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com On the Run from the Lord (Jonah 1:3)
Jonah 1:3, But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. When God records the failures of His people, it's not to discourage us, but instruct, help, teach, and warn us. What can we learn from Jonah? Nineveh was a city of wickedness in desperate need of the Lord. The opportunity for revival was great, but Jonah was not concerned about their need. Jonah's self-will took greater priority in his life than God's will. Jonah had no interest in going to Nineveh to preach to those people. Jonah was willing to serve as long as it was something that was pleasing to him. The problem was not that Jonah did not understand the will of God, but that he did not like it. Choosing your personal will over God’s will always results in consequences. Running from God is a dangerous position in which to be. We can run but we have to "pay the fare." Jonah paid more than the monetary fare for the trip. He paid dearly for his rebellion to God. It costs to disobey, and you will pay for the ticket. The fare included many hidden expenses. Sin costs more than the price tag. Obedience to God will help the economy of an individual, of society and of the nation more than anything else. When Jonah refused to do the will of God, we find that the devil had a boat waiting. While running from God, Jonah hitched a ride with some Gentile sailors. God sent a storm that threatened to capsize the ship, so the sailors began to wonder about their Jewish stowaway. Even Gentiles knew about the Hebrew God, and these guys had no interest in finding themselves on the business end of his wrath. They knew the risks of harboring a fugitive from the God of Israel. They fell to their knees and pleaded for mercy, then threw Jonah overboard. Favorable circumstances and the absence of pain or difficulties does not mean we have gotten by with disobedience. The storm was disciplinary, intending to teach Jonah and call him back. It was also damaging. Sooner or later others will have to pay for our disobedience. Jonah was sound asleep (Jonah 1:5) and God had his eye on him. The worst thing about running from God is that one day we run out from behind His protection and are turned over to Satan (I Corinthians 5:5). Still in His permissive will, we miss the blessings of His desired will. The lesson is clear, don't run! If you are running, go back now! Before running from God, ask yourself, How much is my sin going to cost those around me? Because it is usually those near us that suffer the greatest harm for our mistakes. PRAYER: Lord, I know that You pursue me because You love me. Forgive me for the times I have failed to fulfill Your plan for my life. Thank You for hearing me call out to You as You heard Jonah call out to You. May I have the courage and passion to do Your will the next time You call upon me. In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Jesus' Greatest Craving (John 4:31-34)
John 4:31-34, In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. We all have cravings. For many it’s java (coffee), for some it is a job done successfully, for others it’s Jesus. We were all created with cravings. These cravings we were given are a desire to worship the LORD. When a person fails to satisfy the craving for the LORD they become dissatisfied and eventually miserable until that void is filled. One can attempt to gratify these passions with earthly possessions, however, there will never be satisfaction until Jesus has the preeminence. For Jesus, He sought the Father every day for direction and purpose. Jesus enjoyed meals. Throughout the Gospels, He made many significant statements and worked many miracles in the context of a shared table. Whether it was the feeding of the five thousand or the Last Supper, we can see Jesus liked sitting down to a satisfying meal of food and fellowship. However, eating wasn’t the central motivating factor in His life. Sometimes He went without food for extended periods like His fast in the wilderness (Matthew 4). In the passage today, Jesus chose not to eat while the disciples took time for a meal in town. They left Him by the watering hole and returned later. Meanwhile, Jesus had an extended, life-transforming conversation with the woman at the well. Apparently, the disciples brought back something for Him and were encouraging Jesus to eat. “But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.” His answer caught them by surprise. “Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?” They could not conceive He had not gratified His hunger for food. They must have thought, “when we’re hungry we eat!” How can He not be hungry? Knowing their thoughts, “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” His priorities put obeying His Father far above satisfying mere physical hunger. Jesus hungered most for His Father’s pleasure. Here, as elsewhere, His view of His role was, “…nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42). He had a task to finish for God and skipping a few meals wasn’t going to be a problem. In life, some things are more important than food. By far, the most satisfying times in life are when we sense we have done as the Lord wanted us to do and served as He wanted us to serve. Those moments remind us that any attempt to satisfy self apart from doing the will of God is inevitably not only a frustrating and empty pursuit, but also creates a very discouraging result. God is not interested in being our casual interest or an occasional appetite. If we know Him at all, He provokes a craving in us for Himself that should be apparent in our lives. So where does desire for God’s will and work fit into your list of priorities? It’s easy to let our earthly appetites distract us from what really satisfies. Hunger for God is the best kind of hunger, and doing God’s will brings the truest satisfaction. Sometimes we forget that. We fixate on satisfying ourselves and not on the will of God. The most lasting satisfaction in life comes from knowing we have done as the Lord wanted us to do. Any attempt to substitute anything other than God’s will only leaves us feeling empty, frustrated, or discouraged—and hungry again soon. Questions to Consider: What is your first craving in the morning? What do you depend on to get you through the day? What are some ways in which you communicate and/or demonstrate your craving for the LORD? Points to Ponder: Jesus’ greatest craving was to please the Father. Doing God’s will satisfies your greatest craving. Prayer, Heavenly Father, teach me each day to rightly value Your will above anything else, particularly my own. Remind me that doing my will can’t satisfy me or please You. Lord, I want to trust You by honoring Your desire throughout my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen. If this post has blessed you in any way Please share this website and its articles with others www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com My Valley (Psalm 23:4)
Psalm 23:4, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. In Psalm 23:4, we find some of the most familiar and courageous words ever written. To get to the rich pastures of the mountains the sheep had to go through the valleys. In our spiritual journey from earth to Heaven, we believers go through valleys. Some valleys are very deep and dark. Others may not be as deep and dark, but they are more treacherous. And there are valleys that seem to be unbelievably long and time consuming. Yet, overall, they connect us to the next vantage point; the next mountain top in the journey. The phrase "shadow of death" describes a deep ravine where a shepherd would lead his sheep in order to take them to better pasture. During the walk there would come a time when the cliff walls became so narrow and steep the very sunlight was blocked out. The valley of the shadow of death is different for different people. But it represents the hardest times of life. The darkest nights we experience, bitter experiences, the deepest, loneliest places we pass through. Whatever creates hopelessness in you can be called a shadow in the valley. 1. Believers are not absolved (exempt) from the valley! Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, Valleys are a part of our lives. We must accept it; we must acknowledge it. All who follow the Lord Jesus will eventually walk through deep valleys. It’s not "if" you walk through the valley; it’s "when" you walk through the valley. There are no exemptions; there are no excuses. The same Shepherd Who leads His sheep into “green pastures,” beside “still waters,” and in “paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” also leads them into ravines and low places. They are the difficult times of our lives which may include sickness, financial loss, betrayal, aging, bereavement, disappointment and death. It is in our valleys that we often spiritually mature and get close to the Lord. 2. Believers are not alone nor abandoned in the valley! “I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; We are not alone in our valleys. The Lord is with us the whole time. While we realize there are valleys in which we will travel, we must also realize that we will not travel there by ourselves. I have learned through the years that God often speaks the most clearly in the valley. (Or maybe I’m more likely to hear Him speak here.) You may think you couldn’t go through a valley that way—and you would be right. You couldn’t do it, alone. But God will be there with you. He will be a very present help to you. God will guide you through that circumstance. You don’t have to fear, wonder, or worry about your situation because God will be faithful to you. The Lord is with us when we are weak, weeping and weary. Pray, Father God, You are the Good Shepherd. And You are my shepherd. Thank You that even in the darkest times You are who You say You are. Thank You that You don’t leave me indefinitely in the valley, but You bring me through it. And thank You most of all for Your presence. You never leave me alone. You are always with me—no matter what, no matter when, no matter for how long. In Jesus name I pray, Amen! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Giving is Greater (Acts 20:35)
Acts 20:35, I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. Jesus was the greatest giver. He gave the ultimate gift and He is the example of abundant giving. He coveted nothing of this world. He gave all He had to others. He willingly sacrificed His own life for others. God’s Word clearly teaches that He put us on this earth not to see how much we can get, but to see how much we can give. Untold millions of people have this backwards. When we become born again, new creatures in Christ Jesus, our new nature wants to give, but our old nature wants to hang on to what we have. Jesus tells us that it is more blessed to give than it is to receive. He wouldn't have said this if it wasn't true. Why is it more blessed to give than it is to receive? Here are four reasons: 1. When we give generously, we put God first ahead of our own selfish interests. By doing this, we are obeying His Word and this obedience will cause Him to bless us. 2. When we give generously, this shows that we trust God. The degree of our giving is a clear sign of our freedom from fear. Freedom from fear is always a blessing. 3. When we give generously, this protects us from the snares of greed and covetousness. Generous giving comes from a humble, loving heart. Greed and selfishness originate from a prideful "me first" heart and this obstructs us from the blessings of God. "... for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble” (I Peter 5:5). 4. We are blessed because the more we give to God, the more this opens the channel for Him to see that we receive abundantly in return. If we withhold our giving, we are actually withholding the blessing that our Father wants to give us. The receiving that most people want deep down in their hearts actually comes as a result of our giving. This is one reason why Jesus said that it is more blessed to give than it is to receive. Because by our giving we do receive. When we accept and apply these principles, giving really does become a blessing. Prayer: Lord, I know Your promise of greater rewards in Heaven than those rewards we could ever receive here on earth. Enlarge my heart to give more than I would receive. May I not lose focus of the purpose You have called me to fulfill. Use me to further Your Gospel message for Your glory and to serve those who You place in my path. In Jesus name, Amen. If this post has blessed you in any way please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Living a Life That Will Influence Others (I Corinthians 4:17)
I Corinthians 4:17, For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church. Paul wanted to make sure that these believers in Corinth were going in the right spiritual direction. To help them remember Paul's teachings, the apostle sent Timothy to teach them. It was a great blessing that Paul had someone who was faithful, available and could be relied upon to go to Corinth. Over a century and a half ago, there lived a humble pastor in a small village in Leicestershire, England. He had never attended college and had no degrees. He was just an ordinary, faithful pastor. In his church was a young student to whom he gave special attention, teaching him the Word of God. This young man was later to be renowned as William Carey, one of the greatest missionaries of modern times. This same pastor had a son, a boy whom he taught faithfully and constantly encouraged. The boy's character and powers were profoundly affected by his father's life. The son was Robert Hall, the mightiest public orator of his day, whose sermons influenced the decisions of statesmen and whose character was as godly as his preaching was phenomenal. It seemed that the small village pastor accomplished very little. But his faithful witness and godly life had much to do with giving India its William Carey and England its Robert Hall. God honors and blesses faithfulness. As a young boy, I remember skipping rocks with my older brother into creeks and across ponds. My brother and I would often compete in trying to see whose rocks skipped the most, or made the biggest splash. I can remember my brother picking up and hurling a large rock into the water and watching the ripples reach clear across to the other side of the pond. When I think back to those times, I’m amazed that such a small rock compared to a large body of water could make such a huge impact on the entire body of water. If God is the force behind the large faith-rock of your life, He can toss you higher than any other and cause you to make waves in the water of this world that will reach and influence many lives. The first time we came to Carrabelle it was our desire to be a blessing and an encouragement to the people for the weekend. Since becoming pastor, it’s my desire to not only see our church grow in the Word of God, but also to impact the community for Christ. Allow the Lord to launch you into someone’s life today and make an impact for Christ. Prayer: Lord, make a difference in me. Make a difference through me. Make me a difference maker. Each day You give me opportunities to reach others with the Gospel. I ask You to use me as one of Your instruments to restore one who has fallen in this broken world. In Jesus name, Amen. If this post has blessed you in any way please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com |
AuthorDr. Blackman is passionate about helping others grow in the grace of the Lord. His devotions are centered on how to grow closer to the Lord through a personal relationship with Christ. Archives
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