The Encourager
“Spiritual Direction - by Jeff Curtis”
Spiritual Direction
By Jeff Curtis
The Holy Spirit didn’t look for people to spread the gospel, i.e., missionaries from among those “waiting for something to do”; instead, He made His selection from those who were already active in the Lord’s service, that is, Barnabas and Saul. If you haven’t found your special niche in the work of the church, maybe it’s because you’re not involved in doing what you can. God calls busy people.
The Holy Spirit no longer speaks directly to us as He spoke to the Christians in Antioch (Acts 13:2), but we believe that God still has a plan for every Christian’s life. The general will of God for every man’s life is found in the Word of God. We’re speaking of the special plan for a Christian’s life. It may not always be easy to discover the plan for your life, but it’s worth the effort. One way of discovering His will for you is to see what talents He has given you for personal aggrandizement, but to glorify His name. Another way to discover His will is to look for open doors of opportunity, (1Corinthians 16:9; 2Corinthians 2:12; Colossians 4:3).
It is a blessing to find some special tasks in God’s service. The task doesn’t have to be big or impressive, it may be as simple as being God’s cold-water dispenser; “…whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward” (Mark 9:41). But it needs to be your special task. It’s a great feeling to find your special work.
Godliness
by Stan Cox
“For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come” (1 Timothy 4:8).
Paul’s words here contrast with bodily or physical exercise which has a much more limited profitability to a man. While it may make his body strong, it has no effect whatsoever upon his standing with God, making it a much less profitable action.
However, consider godliness. The term (eusebeia) is well defined by Vine as “piety which, characterized by a Godward attitude, does that which is well-pleasing to Him.”
Doing what is “well-pleasing to God” is good in every way. It impacts your relationships with others, you’re standing with God, and your hope of eternal life. In effect, it is good for right now, and for eternity as well!
I like the phrase “Godward attitude” in Vine’s definition. Godward, looking and acting in the direction of God. That really is the definition of discipleship! One who desires to be a Christian should have as a characteristic behavior an effort to do God’s will always!
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
Meditate on this:
Psalm 119:93
I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life.
