HOW HAS YOUR FAITH CHANGED YOUR LIFE?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. I will not venture
to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in
leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— by the
power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So
from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed
the gospel of Christ.
(Romans 15:17-19)

MEDITATION:
Without some kind of goal in life, we can be floundering around with
no real purpose for living. We need to have something that motivates
us into action; something that creates in us a reason for living; we need
something to look forward to each day. The world tries to motivate us,
but often leaves us empty and still searching for more.

We need to take a look at Paul as an example of someone motivated
by God. We can sense the enthusiasm in Paul when he says,
    “I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God”
Each day Paul was concerned about telling others how wonderful God
is. He wanted others to know how Jesus Christ had genuinely changed
his life (and for Paul, it was a dramatic change!). He knew that in doing
this, he would glorify Jesus.

Many Christians have said that when they were first saved, they
experienced something called a ‘spiritual high’. However, as time
passed, the excitement of what Jesus did for them started to fade.
This was not the case with Paul – his enthusiasm continued to grow,
and not shrink. Why? Probably because Paul decided that nothing
else is as important as sharing Jesus with others.

Apparently, he took an honest and introspective look at himself and
quickly discovered what God not only wanted for him, but also what
God expected of him. He knew the mission God had given him, and it
was full steam ahead for Paul.

He knew that he was equipped with the power of the Holy Spirit,
and being ‘armed’ with the Spirit’s strength and guidance, Paul
was determined to proclaim the gospel of Christ to as many people
as he could.

The scriptures give us the opportunity to see someone who
incorporated the Lord into himself and into what he would
do as someone committed to serving God. When we read
about Paul, we see a man whose entire life was changed for
the better, and we can all learn from his example.

For instance, a good marriage involves the uniting of man,
woman, and God. But too many marriages omit God from
their union in marriage. They fail to worship together, and
in some families neither spouse worships at all. They fail to
read the Bible and pray; they fail to attend worship services;
they don’t even discuss their faith and how God is involved
in their lives. Does that sound like someone who loves God?

Faith in Christ is the most important building block for a
successful marriage and a happy home. Faith is what makes
the sacred institution of marriage holy. The inner strength
of a nation is found in the faith that lives in the hearts and
homes of its people.

ACTION:
Questions to ask ourselves:
    – Have I made the same kind of commitment to God that
       Paul made? If not, what is preventing me from doing so?
    – When was the last time I told someone how God changed life?
    – Have I lost my ‘spiritual high’ for what Jesus did for me?

If you are married, or plan to get married, what are your plans
for including God? If your marriage is going through a difficult
time, it might be because you, or your spouse, are not committed
to worshipping and praising the Lord.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, when I reflect on what Jesus did for me, I am
humbled. Remind me of the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life,
and how He can restore the excitement and enthusiasm I had when
I was saved. Make me aware of the specific tasks You have for me,
and create a burning desire in me to continually pursue what You
want of me so I will hear you say to me one day,
    “Well done, good and faithful servant”.
Teach me the importance of consistent worship of You and how it
can enhance my marriage. With the presence and guidance of the
Holy Spirit, I pray that I will have the kind of love for others that
will create in me a desire for my life to reflect the glory of Your love.”

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