 |
|
| Volume 17 Number 6 June 2015 | Page 3 |
|
|
| Volume 17 Number 6 June 2015 | Page 3 |
Trent Childers
In allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us, we can stay the course in service to Jesus Christ. We are able to work out our salvation, not so much because God works but because He works in us (Philippians 2:12-13). However, we get sidetracked. We need to stay focused. Following are areas of focus pulled from 2 Corinthians 4 and 5 that will help us maintain motivation in serving Jesus Christ.
1. Focus on eternity (4:16-5:8).
2. Focus on pleasing God (5:9).
3. Focus on Judgment (5:10).
4. Focus on fearing God (5:11).
5. Focus on Christ’s love (5:12-14).
6. Focus on His grace (5:16-17).
7. Focus on the Gospel message (5:18-20).
8. Focus on our Lord’s sacrifice (5:15, 21).
I encourage you to study these passages and meditate upon each one. Remember, we have reason to be motivated to serve Jesus Christ!
The Bugle Call of Duty
Clarence Lavender
Bugle is defined as, “To sound or summon by or as if by a bugle call.” It should be one of the chief characteristics of a soldier to eagerly respond to the call of duty. Many battles have been won or lost by heeding or not heeding the warning summons to the bugle call of duty.
Every Christian on a daily basis finds himself or herself engaged in a battle with the world and its influence. To win, we must continually fight the good fight of faith. The victory we seek can come only through duty fulfilled and responsibilities met. The summons of Christ should be heard and responded to in a positive way by all members of the Lord’s church. The duty of many should not be the task of few. The call of duty is not always easy, but God never promised it would be. He has said He would be with us while doing His will (Matthew 28:20).
In the Old Testament, Joshua’s last charge was calling the children of Israel to duty. After discussing with them the manifold blessings of God in the conquest of the Promised Land, he said, “…choose you this day whom ye will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15-24).
Elijah summoned Israel to duty. “How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God follow him; but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word” (1 Kings 18:21). Seemingly, the major thrust of all the prophets was urging the people to duty.
The bugle call of duty comes as loud and as clear to preachers today as in Timothy’s day. Are we who preach listening (Acts 20:28-31)?
I believe the church today has many preachers and elders who have not turned their ears from the call of duty. These are good men, and we should support and stand with them.
In a day of “grace alone,” duty is considered by some as meritorious. Christians do not answer the bugle call of duty to earn anything. They answer it because they have everything.