WHERE DO WE START?

By Jay Pearson

 

We have been commissioned to be witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are his ambassadors. We won’t need to put on a new suit to be an ambassador or witness. The Lord has provided us with adequate clothing, the Holy Spirit. We only need to reflect the inner new man which is clothed with power from on high. Isn’t that great? We are complete and ready, ready to go.

Where do we start? The best place to start is right where we are. Too many times in life we become impatient and want to jump past go and cross the finish line. What does the Lord tell us about where to start?

Acts 1:8:
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Luke 24:47:
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

You see, the Lord wants us to begin right where we are. The disciples were in Jerusalem when they received these words. Our first witness is right where we are. There are many folks around us that need not only to HEAR the gospel, but also need to SEE the gospel. In Jesus Christ we are the living gospel. If married, we have a family right next to us. It is a big responsibility to minister the word to our families, both with words and action. If single we have others right next to us. Let’s not bypass those around us to minister to those we think need it more. We love all the way to where we are going. Our ministry is to love those God has put around us. Then we will be more prepared to go and love those he has directed us to.

Submission is part of our witness. It maintains an order. God would have all things done decently and in order.

Ephesians 5:21:
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

This scripture addresses submission for everyone in the body of Christ, even husbands and wives submitting to each other in the Lord. It is also part of the husband’s responsibility to be the head of the wife. As a husband, I can say that it is hard for us to be the HEAD of the wife when we are acting like TAILS. Our wife is our first line responsibility because we are one flesh. We sanctify and cleanse ourselves and our wives with the washing of water by the word.

Ephesians 5:25-27:
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
27 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
28 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Love begins right where we are to our children, co-workers, and to those we come in contact with. We don’t love because someone did something to deserve our love. We love because God loved us first when we did not deserve his love.

I believe our first responsibility is right where we are. God will not send us to a work in his name when we are denying his church our love at home. When we refuse to take the time to love at home we can’t expect to be that holy ointment abroad.

Luke 16:10:
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

At one time or another I have done all of these “don’ts” and I have been a tail instead of a head. The Lord had mercy on me and brought me to a place of repentance. My love and desire for you is that you would learn the word of God from instruction and the experiences of others, and not have to learn from evil doing. Let’s not close the door to those around us when we can give now. It’s amazing what a little reassurance from her husband does for a wife, and what a little respect shown to a husband by his wife does for him. As husbands and wives we can do that for each other. Reassurance and respect edify. Accusations and withdrawal erode.

1 Peter 3:7:
Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

When we have opportunity to love let us not be focused on another day or another place of opportunity. Seize the moment, redeem the time. Where do we begin? Right where we are. How do we begin? If we are wrong, we change. If we are right, we continue. We don’t need to go to a church building to be a Christian. We need to be the Church. Where do we start? Start at the beginning and the Lord will lead us to the finish line.

Ephesians 4:15-16:
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
15 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

My brothers and sisters, where do we start? Let’s start at the beginning. Let us love those around us with the love of Christ within us, and be ready and fit for the Master’s service wherever he might send us.

 

 

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From the July 2007 issue of The Vine & Branches