(no subject)
Today I woke up feeling horribly lonely.
This led me to realize that I don't feel I have much of a purpose, a ministry in others' lives. And I have never felt the call more strongly than now to go and make disciples. I want to strengthen others' hands in God. I want to teach and lead. I want to make a difference for the One who made a difference in me.
I happened to read Colossians 1:24-28,
Paul's Labor for the Church
24Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 25I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness- 26the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. 27To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
This is my life goal - to live, even to suffer, for the church, the very body of Christ. For His beloved bride.
And Isaiah 61:
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion-
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.
Oh Lord, make my life count for Your glory. There is no hope, no joy, no peace, no worth in any other way of living. Only Christ in me, the hope of glory.
This led me to realize that I don't feel I have much of a purpose, a ministry in others' lives. And I have never felt the call more strongly than now to go and make disciples. I want to strengthen others' hands in God. I want to teach and lead. I want to make a difference for the One who made a difference in me.
I happened to read Colossians 1:24-28,
Paul's Labor for the Church
24Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 25I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness- 26the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. 27To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
This is my life goal - to live, even to suffer, for the church, the very body of Christ. For His beloved bride.
And Isaiah 61:
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion-
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.
Oh Lord, make my life count for Your glory. There is no hope, no joy, no peace, no worth in any other way of living. Only Christ in me, the hope of glory.