Stepping up

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation,be constant in prayer." Roms 12:12

We often while our time in trivialities. While there are things we do to relax, to unwind, there are times where excessiveness creeps in.

The indulgence of rountineness dulls our mind or it creates a lack of God-interest. What I mean is not that we can't speak godliness but we do not live godliness.

In 1 Cor 9:27, Paul says ,"27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

Paul says that his one and only singular purpose in life is to run to reach the upward call of Christ Jesus to bring people to Christ. Yet more amazing than that, he says he will subject his own body, his own life under the lordship of Christ so that he would not be disqualified in the reward. He meant that he is not being disqualifited from being a gospeliter. He preached the gospel of grace, so he must lived the life of grace that is evident by holiness.

A love for God. A zeal for God cannot be by speech alone. It cannot also be by action only. Paul proclaim in 1 Corinthians 9 something before he wrote this epistle very personal. He defend not himself but He wants to draw men to know the Lord he serves is worth everthing. Everything. If that is true, his life is the Lord's everything as well.

This is the gospel he lives and therefore the gospel he gives. I quote Romans 12:12 because simply the deepest most of person joy in God comes from the hope Christ gives that produces peace in suffering that comes when we are devoted in prayer. None of us apart a life of devotion of Christ, can live Christ and produce Christ-exalting life messages to others unless we first ourself is all in love with Christ.

God-interest predominates our life and not self-interest.