Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.** 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)**
As believers in Christ we are to seek to advance the sweet name of Jesus in our generation both through our words and our actions. If you are a Christian, then be a Christian. We are called to make His Name great – not our own. He - Who has died to save us - deserves our full service in being instrumental for God in our generation. Esther’s, in such a time as this. We are not only to seek what His Hand freely gives but also to seek what service we can render unto Him. We are not here to simply entertain ourselves to death or build fortunes or our own notoriety - making our names great rather than His - or any other of the myriad of distractions that keep us from His best for our lives. And what is best for our lives is to make much of Him in our time of His-story. Remember, it is His story and not ours. Moreover, we are definitely blessed when we seek His honor and not our own. We must question where our faith stands if we continually dwell on our honor rather than His.
The Apostle Paul provides an example as he chose to suffer for the furtherance of the Gospel and receive his reward later. Indeed, he was looking forward to His reward. One never outgives God. What “meager” sacrifice we may now make for the furtherance of His kingdom will be more than recompensed later. This gives meaning and purpose in life as well. It is taking hold of the life that is truly life and one without regrets. Our prayers should be that we stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured as “He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins,” the Apostle Paul writes in Colossians 1:13 (NIV). Whatever service we may render to Him is to be filled with gratitude for His redeeming love for us. If one saved you from a burning building would you not be in his debt? How much more so the Lord Jesus who has not only saved us from the dominion of darkness but is bringing us into His glorious kingdom. Let us not be found slothful, lazy or cowardly rather faithful. We are to be His ambassador for good works – works that will last.
And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.** Colossians 1:10-14 (NIV)**