As a college athlete, my love for the game was greater than my love for the process of life it was secretly preparing me for. When it came to the daily schedule of college football, it was the process that got me hooked. Being able to drive the human body’s progress with something as grown-up as being on time, discipline, hard work, being a team player was incredible to learn from football. As I learned more about the intricacies of the college life for a student. There is a great quote or question from one of my professors, who doubled as a Christian mentor that touched my soul and stayed with me the rest of my life.
“What would You Attempt if You knew You could not Fail”?
This spoke to me on many levels during my life. I use to think, I had to make the most of every moment every day, even though that is good advice or practice. That quote is like a voice in my head singing today, “We cannot stand idly by” as the race divide increases. Life is not simple. We face many bumps and turns along the way. So, with that mindset of not failing, we are to remain focused on Christ and being obedient to Him and remain salt and light in the world.
The race is real, the battle continuous, and the painful experiences of my spiritual poverty pierced my heart. Leaving me often with the question, “Who invented Race”. However, our circumstances should not define who we are. You see today we are in a time of victimology of the past which is devoted not to action but to grievance for its own “self” sake and it at times, confuses me. By preference, as believers our behavior in every situation should honor the Lord Jesus, and our identity should always be based on the salvation He has provided for us. So why do we feel guilty and why am I angry? Sin.
This is the wrath of man (anger), of which we are told “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires” (James 1:19-20). Jesus did not exhibit man’s anger, but the righteous indignation of God.
Some would say, What is this popular “narrative” about race in America that many subscribed to? Is there a problem with the narrative? Does it represent reality, and is it constructive or helpful. Can this narrative be a rhetorical criticism used to examine words, seeking to understand the instigator’s mindset and how they affect the intended, spiritual poverty audience?
We must remember that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, and nothing else can be allowed to take priority over our conformity to His will.
Thinking, let us offset this by the nature of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). Christ’s fundamental order to the church was not “go and print Bibles.” His directive was to practice discipleship. The relationship between a more mature Christian and a less-experienced one offers context and understanding in truth as a Christian disciple as a believer in Christ and possesses new life through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Because we love Christ, a Christian narrative will and should be an obedient disciple (John 14:15).
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
Jesus declared, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10
Those who pursue lifestyles characterized by anger, divisiveness, drunkenness rhetoric, etc., are giving evidence that they are running to sin. It is also important to know that when we properly handle sin in our lives, our lives will change, and we will “produce fruit in keeping with repentance” (Luke 3:9).
The Bible is clear that willful, unrepentant sin is an indicator of an untransformed heart (1 John 3:6,9; Romans 6:1-2.) If you are living a lifestyle that the Bible condemns as sinful, then there is a spiritual poverty problem. Do Christians get angry and sin? Yes. Do they willfully continue in sin? No.
We can so easily be distracted from prayer, worship, or a kind act by hunger, service exhaustion, race, bad desires of self, feeling too cold or too hot, thirst, pain, and even a persistent itch for control. The flesh shouts loudly when it wants something, and the ruckus it makes can easily drown out the desires of the spirit. Even when the spirit is willing to do whatever God asks, the flesh remains weak. The answer is Jesus, watch and pray.
Prayer is straightforward. We know that we can ask God for whatever we need. Jesus made a special point that whatever we ask “in His name” He will do (John 14:13). Watchfulness is the other weapon we have against the weakness of the flesh. Watch for the “way out”. Spiritual watchfulness sees the temptation coming and prompts prayer. The apostle Paul said, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
“The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty”. Proverbs 22:3
It isn’t to make the most of time, but to make the most of the time with Love for Christ. What say you? Often, the most of time during painful events make choices different and difficult to think about love. Sometimes, the right course of action during a moment, will also hurt us in some way. This is where we need grace the most. Are we really willing to suffer for the glory of Christ?” Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God” .1 Peter 4:1-2
May Galatians 3:28 be completely realized, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. “Therefore, call upon Him to infuse you with His power and wisdom, and obey anything He calls you to do. Remembering through him, “What would You Attempt if You knew You could not Fail”? For your sovereign God can use everything that happens to you for your blessing and His glory.
God Bless You and This Ministry!
