Be Radiant No Matter the Cost!
There is a story I’ll share tonight behind these photos my husband and I passed on our walking trail last week and I this morning.
Let’s have a talk and walk with Jesus this morning! This morning I arose with an even greater resolve to immerse myself in the Word and to learn more of what it means to be like Jesus! If our Christian walk in this world is meant to make us more like Christ, we can expect we will be rejected, misunderstood, criticized, mistreated, pushed around, all the horrible things us humans cringe from and at all cost! We, as Christians on the other hand must fight for what we believe in no matter the cost! Our advantage as a Christian is that we have hope than cannot be lost because Christ on our side! God is fighting for us! Thank you Jesus! We are made conquerors in Him!!! I am always reminded of this when I have a little walk and talk with Jesus. When I have opposition, Jesus shows me He is my defense!
I not only believe the lyrics of the song ministered by Darlene Zscech and entered as a link above, but every morning I make it a priority to read the Bible Verse of the day like so many others! I want to encourage you to make this a habit if you have not already began to do so. The YouVersion Bible Verse of the day always seems to relate to a situation I am going through or it ministers to my deepest heart desires in some way! That’s the Word of God for you, but more than that, I refuse to take a particular verse at face value on first glimpse, I must dig deeper! So I proceeded to do what is customary, read the entire chapter where that verse is taken from. Romans 8 is a powerful chapter of what life will be like in Christ as a CHRISTian! With headings like “Life Through the Spirit”, “Present Suffering and Future Glory” and “More Than Conquerors” How can you not be enthralled to read further and see what God meant for us to know through His Word.
We will delve into this together a little deeper tonight as our fast continues, and as we meet to pray about the kick-off to the Summer Reading Tour tonight by conference call. For convenience, here is our conference call line:
Conference Dial-in Number: (712) 432-1500
Participant Access Code: 1080543#
I believe, this Summer has already shaped up to be a most dynamic ministry filled summer. I love the people of God, my husband, home church, my family, those who support or do not support me because I still believe every person in and outside the body of Christ has been sent into my life for a beautiful purpose! In some way I intend to view every circumstance, even the not so pleasant ones as a means to draw me closer to Christ and His image. I love that this concept on the “Image of Christ” was brought forth a few times in the Word delivered yesterday in church.
Please read the verses with me highlighted below: (I believe this scripture speaks for itself, but every person, based on your past experiences and your present story of suffering, you’ll relate to this scripture differently with a great testimony that needs to be shared! I’d love to hear from you!)
Present Suffering and Future Glory
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that[h] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our heartsknows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[i] have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Talk to you soon! With Radiant love and prayers,
Stacy Zant ?
#Radiantpip14
