for His Great Name.

God continues to teach me more about Him with every sunrise.  Several mornings ago God led me to write this in my journal:

“For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that His life may be revealed in our mortal body.”   2 Corinthians 4:11

“It is written: ‘I believed, therefore I have spoken.’ With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak.”  2 Corinthians 4:13

To be a jar of clay for His glory is to be being daily given over to death. And from our belief should stem obedience demonstrated through words to others of this: that the surpassing power is from God and not from us.  That only God has the power to redeem us from the grave, which is the wage of all our sin.  And we must speak to declare that we are who we are only because of who He is.  God is love.  And we know this because He sent His son, Jesus, to lay down His life for us, that we might live.  “Live,” I ask, “what about being given over to death?”  We are called as the Potter’s pots to imitate and exalt our Maker.  Remembering His sacrifice, His love, His endurance in opposition, and His willingness to die in our place, we go forth and press on considering life worth nothing to us that we may finish the task we have been given as God’s children: to be witnesses of His love in our homes to our families, and to all of our neighbors everywhere we go.  Our calling is to love our God with everything and to give everything to love others that they may come to know His love.  Anything else does not fall in line with Jesus’ command to His disciples to deny themselves, take up their crosses, and to follow Him.  And, ultimately, our goal should match His as our lives become more and more like His—it is all for the sake of His Great Name.  His glory is His goal.  And His glory must be our goal at all costs, small or large, from changed plans to even death.  For in all things we are more than conquerors.  And the One we follow, the Great Shepherd, has overcome death and the world and the enemy.  And one day a great multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language will stand before the throne of God and in front of the Lamb and will cry out in a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”  And with the angels they will all worship God saying, “Amen!  Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever.  Amen!”

Verses that God used to lead me to these truths:

2 Corinthians 4

1 John 4, 5

Psalm 86

Romans 6:23

Romans 4:20-21

Hebrews 12:1-3

Philippians 3:12-14

Acts 20:24

Philippians 2:5-11

Acts 1:8

Luke 10:27

Ezekiel 36:22-23

Proverbs 16:9

Romans 8

John 16:33

1 Peter 2:25

1 Peter 5:4

Revelation 7:9-12