It’s hard to believe that summer is gone, and fall has arrived. “Fall is the season that teaches us that change can be beautiful.” This saying goes so well with our current staff Bible study on sanctification, Changed into His Image, by Jim Berg. As a Christian, our lives should be constantly changing to become more and more like Christ. A key principle in our study is that to become like Christ, we must learn to know Him through His Word, the Bible. “Sanctification is the process whereby the Spirit of God takes the Word of God to make us more like the Son of God.”
CHANGED TO SERVE
As Anne Marie and I look back over the two years we have been with Capitol Studies, we are especially grateful for growth and change in the lives of people to whom we minister. We have shared with you before about a staffer who trusted Christ as Savior last year. It has been so encouraging to see his continued growth. Recently we were talking about how we will all one day give account when we stand before God and what we’ve done for Christ will be rewarded. This staffer immediately expressed concern that he had little that would be rewarded because, for much of his life, he had not been a Christian. We were able to encourage him with the fact that many great heroes of the faith lived relatively short lives, but they used the time they were given to serve God. So must we.
REDEEMING THE TIME
I was privileged to give a short devotional at a luncheon given in appreciation of the courageous senators that took firm biblical stands on crucial issues that came before the legislature this session. My text for the message was from Mark 13 where Jesus exhorts his disciples to watch and be alert because Christ’s return could be at any time. The disciples all had tasks they were given to do, and they needed to be diligent in fulfilling them. Certainly, that message is relevant for us today. The time is closer to Christ’s return than it has ever been. We need to be alert and ready, diligent about the tasks God has given us to fulfil. If you look at the end of Mark 13, you will see that God has given different tasks to different people. We are so grateful for those of you who pray, for those of you who give, for those of you who volunteer labor, and for those of you who provide meals. Each part is just as important in God’s sight. We labor together for Him. What we do for Him will last.
ONLY ONE LIFE by C.T. Studd
Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, ‘twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one,
Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life.
Only one life, ‘twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
I shall speak Thy testimonies before kings, and shall not be ashamed!
Psalm 119:46
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