Be the Best for His Glory - Pastor Reeves

Have you ever heard the saying “living your life with excellence and worth doesn't come easy?” Bearing the cross can be a difficult process. If we are going to live as disciples of Jesus, we have to remember that all of our efforts of worth and excellence are difficult. The Christian life is “gloriously” difficult sometimes, but its difficulty does not make us faint and cave in—it stirs us up to overcome.

God saves people by His sovereign grace through the atonement of Jesus. The bible says we have to “work out” that salvation in our everyday, practical living (Philippians 2:12). If we will only start on the basis of His redemption to do what He commands, then we will find that we can do it! If we fail, it is because we have not yet put into practice what God has placed within us. But a crisis will only reveal whether or not we have been putting it into practice. If we will obey the Spirit of God and practice in our physical life what God has placed within us by His Spirit, then when a crisis does come we will find that our own nature, as well as the grace of God, will stand by us.

It’s crazy to say this but I thank God He gives us difficult things to do! Because in moments of difficulty we grow, we change but it is up to us to see or make a difference. Remember His salvation is a joyous thing, but it is also something that requires bravery, courage, and holiness. It tests us for all we are worth. The bible says in Hebrews 2:10 that Jesus is “bringing many sons to glory” , and God will not shield us from the requirements of sonship. God’s grace produces men and women with a strong family likeness to Jesus Christ, not pampered, spoiled weaklings. It takes a tremendous amount of discipline to live the worthy and excellent life of a disciple of Jesus in the realities of life. And it is always necessary for us to make an effort to live a life of worth and excellence.

Take a moment this week to read and study Matthew 7:13-14

"Enter by the narrow gate . . . . Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life . . ." Matthew 7:13-14