Category: Sister Judy (Page 7 of 276)

Familiar to most of us is Jim Elliot, whose brief life among the Auca Indians of Ecuador ended with his martyrdom, along with four fellow missionaries. He had written in his journal, “God, I pray Thee light these idle sticks of my life that I may burn up for Thee. Consume my life, my God, for it is Thine. I seek not a long life but a full one, like you Lord Jesus.” His life was short for he died at only 29 years of age but he considered the salvation of the lost more important than his comfort or his very life. His wife Elisabeth wrote a biography of her husband and then carried on his work with the very people who had murdered her husband.

I read of others who made sacrifices and took the risk to go where they felt called by God. C.T. Studd was considered the best English athlete of his day. He experienced a renewal of his faith at a crusade and felt called to Africa as an evangelist. Then there was Mary Slessor, a worker in a textile factory in Scotland who, when she came to faith became active in street ministry and witnessed wherever she went. God laid a burden on her heart to go to Nigeria to a cannibalistic, savage tribe. Later she built a mission house, a school and a church, rescued orphans and even adopted some of them. God also used her for intervening in tribal affairs and she became their tribal mediator. Then there was William Carey, a cobbler. When he came to the Lord, he became a lay preacher with a passion for world missions. He went to India and started a school and a college. He mastered many languages, translated the Bible into six of the languages and parts of the Bible into twenty-nine others.

The list could go on and on of those who took a step of faith and risked their lives. They didn’t put limits on what God could do through them. For us also, the ultimate sacrifice is to give our whole selves to God. Who knows what He will do through us?

It is good for all of us to have someone we can be honest with and open our hearts in self-revelation. We all have struggles and would find it strengthening to have someone listen to our heart and to pray for us. It is humbling but also freeing when we find we are still affirmed by them, even though there are areas in our life in which we still need victory. I remember when my small group didn’t just pray once for me in a specific area in which I needed inner healing, but several times before I had victory. It was so comforting during that process that I knew they were holding me up in prayer rather than judging me.

It is a wonderful gift we can give to one another when we listen and share struggles rather than conceal our faults. There’s something so freeing to know someone loves us, even when they know all about us with all our shortcomings. When we conceal our real selves and don’t let others know us, it is a lonely life. We miss out on what the Lord has for us to be for one another. We are told in James 5:16, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” It is a beautiful thing to confide in and pray for one another and experience healing. Sometimes healing occurs just in the sharing as we voice it before another; we feel understood, supported and know we will be prayed for. Let us not be reluctant to share ourselves with another caring Christian.

The Lord wants to refine us and as it says in Psalm 66:10, “ For you, O God, have tested us as silver is tried.” The Message says, “He trained us first, passed us like silver through refining fires…pushed us to our very limit, road-tested us inside and out.” The Amplified says, “He wants to prove us, try us as silver is tried, refined and purified.” I’m sure all of us have experienced the heat of the refining fire, as our imperfections are burned. May only the silver remain that we will be ready for whatever He has for us next.

How many times might we hear Christians complain about how busy they are doing work for God? Maybe they don’t come right out and say it, but they are wishing to have more free time and not so many Kingdom responsibilities. We might ask ourselves what our attitude is towards doing work for Him. Do we feel we should be waited on rather than helping and serving others? I know when I worked for my aunt’s family, I didn’t sit down until the meal was served, or relaxed until after the children were bathed, prayers said and in bed. I only did what my aunt asked of me and knew that was my job. No complaints, it was what I was given to do.

As Christ followers, we are given work to do in light of the coming of His kingdom. We are to help the poor and vulnerable, show hospitality, care for widows and orphans, give generously as the Holy Spirit directs us, visit the sick and pray for them, preach, teach and share Jesus, etc. These aren’t just things to do if we feel in the mood to do them, but these are commands from our Lord. Even in our everyday jobs, we are to be lights and bring glory to our Master. Let us remember we are servants ready to do His will with joy.

Our lives were made for intimacy with the Lord, and we need faith to trust Him as we give up our own ego-driven lives to respond to a God-directed life. I think as we do this we will find that it often results that we are led to serve others, even when it is not easy or convenient. But when we obey and love God in loving others, our hearts are enlarged and changed. One day, Al and I spent much of the day with someone who has experienced loss, and the hours of listening were ones of great peace and blessings. I felt such an awareness of God’s presence and pleasure that stayed with me for some time. I wonder, why we don’t quickly respond to the Holy Spirit’s promptings all the time, for so much grace awaits to be poured out on us!

I have much to learn as I read what author Ruth Burrows has to say about allowing the Lord to transform our natural self-seeking into trusting self-abandonment. Maybe some days we sing with deep meaning, “All to Jesus I surrender, all to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, in His presence daily live. I surrender all, I surrender all….” Sadly, there may be other days when we go our own way and we miss out on His peace and rest.