BBD 10.28.05 Follow the Example
Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>
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The Burning Bush Devotional
1,935 New Subscribers since November 2004
10.28.05
Follow the Example
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. - Philippians 4:13.
Sharon had a terrible week, which began when someone attacked her with spray
paint. Soon after that Sharon was kidnapped, however, she was found safe a
day later. Now, Sharon has learned that she is in violation of a city
ordinance and will have to move. Who is Sharon? Sharon is a seven-month-old
goat who has been the mascot of the Sigma Chi fraternity at Southeast
Missouri State University. It is a violation of a city ordinance to have
barnyard animals living inside the city limits.
Even for a goat, Sharon had a horrific week, but even if Sharon were a human
being, we would not have been that surprised to have heard the news about
it. Because terrible things and even more horrific things happen to people
all the time. We are bombarded with the bad news on a continual basis of all
those bad things that occur so very frequently.
The threat of all of this bad news and terrible things that we hear about to
the average person is that we will begin to believe that we are next.
Because we begin to believe that we are next and that something ugly could
happen to us we will curtail, and reduce our activities. Believing that
around the next corner could be a threat to our life, family, or property we
become more and more cautious.
What does this have to do with living the Christian life? As Christians we
are called to go (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8), to be ambassadors (2
Corinthians 5:20), to reflect the light of our Lord into the darkness around
us (Matthew 5:14-16), and to be vocal and active enough to restrain evil by
preserving the good that is present in this world (Matthew 5:13). So, it is
imperative for the fulfillment of every Christian's mission, purpose, and
call, not to be deterred by the activity of our enemy, the corruptness of
this world, and the weakness of our flesh.
The nourishment of our spiritual lives is a vital necessity to overcome the
bad things happening all around us to the extent that we continue with our
mission of living the Christian life effectively. Maintaining continual
contact with and input from our Lord is vital. Only through His power can we
persist in living as we should. The apostle Paul describes how the Lord
empowered him to live by saying, ".for I have learned in whatever state I
am, to be content: know how to be abased, and I know how to abound.
Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be
hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through
Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:11-13)." Paul is thought to have
been in prison in Rome as he wrote those words. Prior to that time Paul had
experienced all kinds of terrible things. Paul had been beaten, stoned (left
for dead), put into stocks, jailed, shipwrecked, and bitten by a snake.
You may be thinking that an apostle ought to be able to do those things and
go through those things but you are just an ordinary Christian. Here's what
Paul told the Philippians and I believe God would tell you through Paul
today: "Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk,
as you have us for a pattern (Philippians 3:17)." Through Christ Jesus let
us move forward fulfilling the Great Commission, being Ambassadors for
Christ, bringing light to the darkness of this world, and preserving all
that is good.
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