Hello everyone! It's been a little while since I last posted, but to be honest, if you were living in my October, you would completely understand! I'm just finishing catching up! But here I am - and God is so strong in all my life!
A lot has happened since I last posted. One, I got engaged! It is very exciting to know that God has given me a woman to love and care for for the days of our lives. And I am very excited! Two, I have been wedding planning. Enough said there. Three, I have been working with young men and women, and helped 39 make a profession of Christ as their Savior in October. Usually, this means that they've graduated from church - but what is even more wonderful is the number of them that want more of Christ! I can for sure count on 25 of those kids on a regular basis and know that they desire to be disciples and not just mere Christians. It is so amazing!
Well, I'm in the week of Thanksgiving, and I have much to give praise for! It is so wonderful to be alive and to be working for God's kingdom and seeing that kingdom grow! I am blessed, and I know there has been a specific calling on my life. I do not take that for granted, nor use that to boast; but I say this, and know that I am humbled before a mighty God and thankful to be His servant and disciple.
This morning, I share with you what God has been laying on my heart. I'm jamming to Lecrae and I'm just excited! God has been so good to us and He is showing Himself in great ways. I titled this post "The Body" because this is what I am to be about, as are all Christians. Coming next week, I am teaching on the song "City on our Knees" by TobyMac, and as I prepare, God is showing me I have to be completely focused on building His body on this earth.
I start writing this with the words of Paul to the Thessalonians in 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 19 - 20:
"And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe...For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus, when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy."
I read these verses again this morning and was so blessed as I remembered my job and my duty as a follower of Christ. We are called to rejoice and cover those who accept God's Word in prayer. We cannot be simply kept at how they have turned to Christ, we have to move them closer to the Lord. That happens through our prayers to God. I know that when I have seen this in my life, I have been so filled with joy in the Lord - but I know that there is more work. We must remember that. But more are joined together and the bride becomes more beautiful as more come to faith in Jesus.
But the second part is really the gem in this passage. When Paul writes that his joy and hope and crown is in the people, I first got a little confused. As I dwelt more on what Paul is writing, here is what I came up with. We will be rewarded for what we do for Jesus. We will be given crowns, which (even more awesome that we get to do) we will leave at Jesus feet for His glory. But, we still can see that reward. When Paul writes this, I believe he says that the faith and commitment to Jesus are a reward he receives for being faithful with his calling. And Paul prays for the people, presenting them to Christ continually, and leaving "his crown" before Jesus. But he still gets to see that crown. He rejoices in the body of Christ.
This is what we get to experience as disciples of Christ. We get to see others grow and fall in love with Jesus. This is our "glory and joy." But we have to leave it before Jesus, and continue to work for Him. We are called to rejoice in the body of Christ! Those we lead to Christ and make disciples are our crown, but we have to leave them before Christ.
However, in order to do this, we must be faithful to Christ first. The body is beautiful - very beautiful - but in order to make disciples, you have to be a disciple first. God longs for you - and He will use you - but He loves you so much.
Turn to Him! God yearns for us to be the body and to love as He loves! We will one day be a "City on our Knees!" Let's move that forward to come soon!
God bless you all and I love you so much!
Brandon
Heavenly Father, you are glorious! You are worthy of all praise! You are calling us to be the body - living, moving, breathing, caring, sharing - just as you are. Lord, we are so blinded though. We cannot be the body without your Spirit. So pour on us your Spirit. Revive us Lord to you and for your glory! Call us unto you Lord that we would glorify the Mighty Jesus! It is Him we live for and it is Him I praise! Lead us Glorious King! Amen.
