Dying in the Lord~ 13

We are enabled to perform the work of the Kingdom.

And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. (Mark 10:29-30)

There is work to be done if the Kingdom of God is to come into our own life and from there into the earth.

If we are to be able to do the work of the Kingdom we must be willing, if Jesus should require it, to leave much that is dear to us. If we make such a sacrifice, and it truly is for Jesus' sake and the Gospel's and not because of a false motive on our part, we will be rewarded richly now and will receive eternal life in the ages to come.

Only those who have placed all their relationships on the altar of God are able to leave all when the Lord calls.

For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. (1 Corinthians 9:17)

If the Lord has commissioned us to accomplish a portion of Gospel work we are to set out and do it as He leads and enables. If we do not do what God has requested we will be punished severely. God does not judge all believers alike. He judges according to what has been committed to us. Performing Gospel work may bring us to death to self but we must persist in doing the Lord's will.

Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: (Colossians 1:24)

To some of us it is given to suffer on behalf of the Church, the Body of Christ. There are tribulations, pains, travails that must be experienced if the Bride of the Lamb is to come to perfection. We must be willing to bear these if the Lord is to receive the desire of His heart.

We enter union with God so that all He has is ours and all we have is His.

And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. (John 17:10)

The little gods of the dust spend much of their time clutching to themselves things, relationships, and circumstances. All of these become gods that rule the little gods and we do not desire to cease worshiping them. It is death to us as we let go of our "treasures."

It is only as we are willing to give Christ everything, every thing, every relationship, every circumstance, that we are able to escape the corruption that is in the world.

Every aspect of our personality must be placed on the altar of God. All must be relinquished. All must be committed.

Anything we hold back is loss for Christ and for us and will result in our being unable to stand the pressures that are rapidly coming upon us.

Continued. Dying in the Lord~ 14