A Paradoxical Faith

A paradox; the spirit gives life to the body while the body manifests the spirit…

One physical the other spiritual, yet try as we might they are inseparable…

This paradox confounds the philosopher and flusters the scientist…

What should sound unreasonable makes perfect sense…

No matter what means are used, none can disprove it…

On the contrary, this paradox withstands all intellectual and scientific probes…

Without the body the spirit is not visible, but without the spirit the body dies…

How is this? A person whose spirit is crushed may take their life…

But a determined individual reveals the strong spirit that lies within…

Do not try to split hairs and live one way then another…

Better to act an utter fool than to appear wise only to be proven a fool…

Piety for its own sake gains nothing but self-inflicted shame…

Humility is to put your interests second, not put yourself down…

If humility you desire then inspire others through confidence in yourself and them…

No one ever inspired another if the one considers himself worthless…

Do not get mixed up in rank or prestige…

How curious that the content tend to prosper…

Yet the over-ambitious often fall to disappointment and insatiable desire…

Trust the Lord to provide the abilities necessary for every task at hand…

Take spiritual sustenance from all you do as Jesus did…

For He said to His disciples: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me…”

Why not follow Christ’s example and petition the Lord to sustain us in our labors?

Such fulfillment I wager few have ever experienced…

For myself I know I have not reached that point…

Bear in mind, as sustain means to “keep going,” we are to continuously walk with God…

God promises to sustain us both spiritually and physically when we walk with Him…

The spiritual prompts the physical to act through their mutual relationship…

Remember to give thanks for opportunities and abilities He has given us…

Do not hold back in your labors for the more we excel the greater His glory…

Never will He place before us an unnecessary task…

Regardless the task let us roll up our sleeves and get to work…

Any assignment undertaken with earnest passes quickly…

Even the most mundane project will not last long if set to with a will…

Christ told his followers, “the saying, ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true”…

“I sent you to reap what you have not worked for”…

“Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor”…

Consider this: no matter your occupation you benefit from others’ work…

All the technology we use for work, someone else labored to design …

In research we read others’ works; in ministry we read what others preserved…

The hardest paradox lies in this…

We teach, encourage, and instruct all who come under the church roof…

Yet somehow all who come under that roof never really leave…

They remain in the building, asleep between Sundays and Wednesdays…

We must awake from our slumber!

Better to fall asleep in church than ignore the lost outside its walls!

The lost refuse to enter churches by what they see outside, not inside…

It is upon us to turn the Church inside out…

To first set an example, then to teach others, as Christ did for us…


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Inspired by the passage: John 4:31-34

Crusaders

The first responsibility for a soldier is to obey orders and second to survive.

In the battle for victory a soldier may fail the second but never the first.

Fight for today because tomorrow may never come, we cannot waste a single day.

Hearken and take up the cry, the call to arms.

War is upon us, we must prepare at once or we will falter.

At every opportunity train new warriors to join in battle for the unready fall swiftly.

Holy warriors, do not use intellect without zeal.

Neither fight with mindless passion, for on its own passion soon grows weary.

Together they are powerful but divided they are vulnerable.

Do not allow Satan to deceive you or dim the light within you.

He knows he cannot overcome the light itself for that comes from above.

He must deceive you to dim the light and force your withdrawal.

Always remember the light within for God has given this to you as holy weapons.

A shield at your side or sword in its scabbard will not move lest brought to bear.

Thence, cry to Jesus for swords to attack and shields to defend and He will hear.

Rest in the Lord, both in and after battle, for our foe never tires.

Do not linger long on victory for any pause gives the enemy reprieve.

Be wary when times are good because the devil prepares a deadly trap.

Never forget that you were bought at high cost and given great purpose.

 Crusaders, the fulfillment is in the pilgrimage, will you not live for Christ?

Do not reach journey’s end only to discover what could have been…

To live is Christ, and to die is gain…but what about just before death?

Will you look back in regret on wasted time and opportunities?

Or will you be able to see the Lord’s work in your life, its purpose fulfilled?

He has commanded us to be strong and of good courage, to engage the enemy!

Hasten, do not delay! Take heart, God is on your side, who can resist His will?

Let our actions demonstrate our faith, that others may see Christ in us.

Prepare for battle at every opportunity, for it has not ended; do not delay!

Strap on your holy armor and mighty sword of the Spirit! 

Brothers and sisters, we must join the fray!!