Resolutions 4

Today I'm reading Philippians 1:20-26,

^"20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. ²¹ For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. ²² If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! ²³ I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; ²⁴ but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. ²⁵ Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, ²⁶ so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me."

Resolutions have to do with deciding...deciding what is really important to you...what is really important about you. Our actions tell us what we really believe. We can spout off all kinds of platitudes and spiritual sounding phrases, but it is what we actually DO that tells us who we really are. In that sense, actions do speak louder than words.

Jim Elliot, the missionary martyred in Ecuador in the 1950's, put his life on the line to live out what he said he believed. He may have been over zealous in his attempts to spread the Gospel, but he at least lived what he said.

His diary is challenging reading, because, like the Apostle Paul, he was truly 100% committed to Christ and to Christ's call on his life. One of his most famous quotes in this one:

"Lord, make me a crisis man. Let me not be a mile-post on a single road, but make me a fork that men must turn one way or another in facing Christ in me."

Those are some challenging words. When people encounter you, do they also encounter Christ? What kind of God will people think you really believe in, based on your actions and your behavior? If people don't see Christ in you, why?

Tough stuff to think about but crucial if we desire to live effectively for Christ.

Jeff

Today's prayer: Lord, teach me to listen. The times are noisy and my ears are weary with the thousand raucous sounds which continuously assault them. Give me the spirit of the boy Samuel when he said to Thee, "Speak, for Thy servant heareth." Let me hear Thee speaking in my heart. Let me get used to the sound of Thy voice, that its tones may be familiar when the sounds of earth die away and the only sound will be the music of Thy speaking. Amen. (A. W. Tozer)