Living a life worthy of Christ....
1 Peter 2:21-25 (ESV)
"21For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
O, my Lord, you are so wondrous in your works I sit in awe of you wondering what I can do to live my life more centered upon you. I am overcome with the realization of my shortcomings and the knowledge that there is nothing that I can do to be as great as you are! I am broken in the knowledge of the pain and suffering you endured for me that I may be brought to you. I lay down before your cross weeping not looking forward to the knowledge of that suffering as I lay before you all of my sin, my iniquity. You are so glorious in all that you have done and continue to do for I know that the God that I worship is acting, creating, changing, and living within me and all the hearts of those that you have changed. I heard your knocking and fearfully allowed you in because I knew how unclean I was and still struggle against, but you entered with love and continue to sweep out the dirt and clear out the closets of the stuff that I no longer am able to hide. Sin no longer keeps its hold on me like a vice, but when I stumble, which I do often, I know that you are there to pick me up and dust me off.
You turn my heart to the baying of the sheep, listening and trusting the voice of the shepherd. When I fall away briefly I listen to your voice and my heart leaps for joy. How is it that the world can pray and not be brought to the fullness of the joy that is you? Your Spirit broke me when He entered in and when I pray I can only but know the love that you have for all that do not know you and especially those that reject you! I can't imagine others praying and not being overwhelmed.
Lord, strengthen me. Strengthen me to stand to your convictions and be a proclaimer of your truth. Guide me that the words that come from my mouth are reflective of your Word. Replace my own hard heart with the heart of flesh that reveals to me the love you have for all of you creation. As your vessel use me and shape me that I may glorify you in all that I do. Amen.
"21For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
O, my Lord, you are so wondrous in your works I sit in awe of you wondering what I can do to live my life more centered upon you. I am overcome with the realization of my shortcomings and the knowledge that there is nothing that I can do to be as great as you are! I am broken in the knowledge of the pain and suffering you endured for me that I may be brought to you. I lay down before your cross weeping not looking forward to the knowledge of that suffering as I lay before you all of my sin, my iniquity. You are so glorious in all that you have done and continue to do for I know that the God that I worship is acting, creating, changing, and living within me and all the hearts of those that you have changed. I heard your knocking and fearfully allowed you in because I knew how unclean I was and still struggle against, but you entered with love and continue to sweep out the dirt and clear out the closets of the stuff that I no longer am able to hide. Sin no longer keeps its hold on me like a vice, but when I stumble, which I do often, I know that you are there to pick me up and dust me off.
You turn my heart to the baying of the sheep, listening and trusting the voice of the shepherd. When I fall away briefly I listen to your voice and my heart leaps for joy. How is it that the world can pray and not be brought to the fullness of the joy that is you? Your Spirit broke me when He entered in and when I pray I can only but know the love that you have for all that do not know you and especially those that reject you! I can't imagine others praying and not being overwhelmed.
Lord, strengthen me. Strengthen me to stand to your convictions and be a proclaimer of your truth. Guide me that the words that come from my mouth are reflective of your Word. Replace my own hard heart with the heart of flesh that reveals to me the love you have for all of you creation. As your vessel use me and shape me that I may glorify you in all that I do. Amen.
posted by Rev. Christopher Byars at 8:34 AM
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