SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 12/23/2024 2:36 AM
My Worship Time Focus:
PT-3 “Realize Your Duty”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: 2 Timothy
1:11-12a
Message of the verses: “11 for which I was
appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. 12 For this reason I also
suffer these things,”
I have to say that the reason I have missed a number
of days in doing my Spiritual Diaries is because I am sick and it does not seem
to be getting better but I thought that I will try and continue on today and
then I will see how it goes.
You
know when sin entered the world recorded way back in the 3rd chapter
of Genesis mankind has been on what could be called a rollercoaster ride of
doing good and evil, and I am talking about those who are true believers in
Jesus Christ. It is a struggle to do the
right things for the cause of Christ.
John MacArthur writes that “Faithful ministry in the Lord’s service is
always bittersweet; It brings sufferings and joy, disappointment and gratitude. It is like the little book representing
judgment that John took ‘out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was in my
mouth sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter’ (Rev.
10:10.)”
In reading the letters that Paul wrote we find out
that he often suffered for that cause of Christ, and this was not just for Paul
as he writes in our verse for today. To
Paul suffering was a small price to pay, because his joy always outweighed his
suffering, and his satisfaction always outweighed his disappointments. He wrote in Philippians 1:21 “Even if I am
being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your
faith,” he testified later in that
letter, “I rejoice and share my joy with you all” (2:17). Paul gave similar testimony to believers at
Colossae, saying, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my
flesh I do my share on behalf of His body (which is the church) in filling up
that which is lacking in Christ’s afflictions” (Col. 1:24). The worst suffering we endure is not
comparable to our future glory Rom. 8:18).
I
finish this section with a quote from John MacArthur who quotes Charles Sturgeon.
“Charles
Spurgeon gave a vivid illustration of the overriding satisfaction that comes
from selfless, godly service.
“A man shall carry a bucket
of water on his head and be very tired with the burden; but that same man when
he dives into the sea shall have a thousand bucked on his head without perceiving
their weight, because he is in the element and it entirely surrounds him. The duties of holiness are very irksome to
men who are not in the element of holiness; but when once those men are cast
into the element of grace then they bear ten times more, and feel no weight,
but are refreshed thereby with joy unspeakable.”
“Duty
can bring the deepest pain or the highest joy.
Spiritual duty unfulfilled brings untold dissatisfaction, regret, and
anguish, no matter how easy unfaithfulness maybe. On the other hand, a spiritual duty fulfilled
brings untold satisfaction and happiness, whatever the cost of
faithfulness. The Christian who is
obedient to his duty under the Lord can say with Peter, ‘If anyone suffers as a
Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God’ (1
Peter. 4:16).”
12/23/2024 3:04 PM
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