Saturday, November 14, 2015

Saturday, November 14, 2015

[by Keesha Sullivan]

"Faith made him regard God as sovereign truth; hope made him think of [God] as complete happiness…" (brother Lawrence, 89). Can you imagine what type of Christians would be walking around if every person that believed in God believed that all of their happiness, hope, and worth came from Him? That Christian would be completely happy; she would always be hopeful. She would also be totally self confident and feel worthy to be loved.

As a church we read the book titled The Practice of the Presence of God by brother Lawrence. Brother Lawrence embodied these traits. People from all over the world would come to speak with him, because they wanted what he possessed. Brother Lawrence had a great example. He had Jesus.

Jesus knew that everything, whether it was happiness, hope, worth, wisdom, joy, etc., came from His Father. He knew that there was nothing in this world that could compare to the incomparable joy of knowing the Lord our God and spending eternity with Him.

Jesus spoke of this fullness when teaching the crowds, but He later showed just how much He meant it through His actions. In our Scripture from today, it says, " Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Jesus knew what it meant to spend eternity with God. He endured the cross because he knew that he would suffer for just a short while before being reunited with His Father. He would be with Him for eternity. He would have the chance to forever live in happiness, hope, and worth. Because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross, we too have this opportunity, so let's take Paul's words to heart. "Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith…" (Hebrews 12:2).

Lord, help us to become men and women that embody happiness, hope, and worth. Help us show the world that the things of this world don't matter. All that truly matters is You! You are God, which means that You are our Everything. We need only You. Please help us to seek You first. Help us to seek Your kingdom and rule on earth. We love you Lord. Thank You for truly blessing us with every good and perfect gift. In Jesus's name. Amen!

[excerpt taken from The Practice of the Presence of God, by brother Lawrence]