IV. BE-ING PARTAKERS
What is a partaker? Simply
put, it is one who takes part. Have you ever run in a race, or tried out for a
team? You have to "qualify"
first. You have to measure up. You have to be one of the best. Do you feel like
you qualify to be in God's Kingdom? Do
you feel like one of the best? Most of you are saying, "No way!" You are listening to all the negative
comments that are left-over in your mind from childhood, from hurtful
people in the present, or else you are listening to Satan’s lies. I have good
news. Jesus already qualified you on the day you accepted Him as your Savior.
You do not even have to try out!!! You
are already on His team. Jesus laid down His own life on Calvary’s cruel cross to set us free from the bondage of sin, and to give us His glorious power. God delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood. There is no sin so extreme or ghastly that it cannot be forgiven. He forgives all of our sins. Our acceptance of the redemption given to us by Jesus’ death on Calvary’s cross qualifies us to take part in His family as well as His ministry on the earth (Colossians 1:12).
V. BE-ING AWARE OF JESUS
Jesus is the image of the
invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. By Him and for Him all things
were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible
things. Even thrones, dominions, principalities and powers are under His
dominion. He lived before all things were created, and in Him all things
exist. He is the head of the body, His church. He always was and always will
be, the firstborn who rose from the dead. He has the preeminence and is the
fullness of all things. We dwell in Him and He lives in us. He reconciled all
things to Himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made
peace through the blood of His cross (Colossians 1:11-20).
At one time we were all
alienated from God and enemies because of our unbelief; yet now, He has
reconciled us in the body of His flesh through His death. In the end, He will
present us to our Father - holy, blameless and above reproach in His sight (Colossians
1:21-22). Christ reconciled us to Himself, and now He has given us the
ministry of reconciliation to introduce others to Him. Do not worry about the results. All He asks
is that you tell others about what Jesus is doing for you and He will do the
rest. Your life, your smile, your handshake, your listening ear may be all a
person needs to bring him or her out of the kingdom of darkness and into the
glorious light of the Kingdom of God.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, we may not see
the results of our ministry to other human beings right away. We may never know
what happens to that person we talked to. We trust in Your promises that Your
Word will never return to You without bearing fruit. We plant the seed or water
the seed someone else already planted; then You give the increase.
Thought for the Day:
Preach the gospel at all
times. If necessary, use words. – St. Francis of Assisi