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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue 727 February 8, 2003 - A Jolt of Cold Water The other evening as I was walking Genni, the toboggan hill was busy with children. The toboggan hill runs right out onto the lake and the kids compete to see who can go the furthest out onto the ice. The weather has been a little warmer and there are lots of huge puddles atop the ice. It's pretty much impossible to run a toboggan or sled along the ice without getting at least a little wet. If you fall off in the wrong spot, you're going to get soaked. Judging from the screams there were a lot of kids getting cold jolts of ice water during their rides. That didn't seem to stop them though; they just kept going back for more. I could imagine the scene when they got home. "How in the world did you get so cold and wet?" "I dunno. We were just tobogganing." "You didn't have enough sense to stay out of the water?" "But mommmm, EVERYBODY else was doing it. We were just having fun." "You're not everybody else. You should have more sense than that." I think about the many times in life I've done stupid things. During the process, God often gave me a jolt of ice cold water to get my attention. Often I didn't listen because I was enjoying what I was doing, or everyone else was doing it. I would then have to stand before God in repentance and explain what I had done. The conversation plays something like this "Kevin, how did you get to be in such a mess?" "I dunno God. It just seemed like harmless fun. "Didn't you hear all the little warnings my Spirit gave you?" "Yes... but Goddddddddd everybody else was doing it" I figure there's no point in lying because He knows I heard Him. "Are you supposed to do what everyone else does? I have higher expectations of you than that." Here's a jolt of cold water for you. Being a Christian is not all about us, it also involves letting other people see Christ in us. You see we're His ambassadors. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 NIV As children of the most high God, as His ambassadors, we're called to a higher standard. We called to a higher standard morally, financially, and spiritually. We're called to touch the untouchable, love the unlovable, and forgive the unforgivable. We're called to give even when it hurts. We're called to show the world who He is through everything we do. Ambassadors are not expected to be perfect, but they are called to demonstrate the best the nation they represent has to offer in all circumstances. We represent our true home, heaven. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. Ephesians 2:19-22 NIV What kind of an ambassador have you been? If the best we can show is what everyone else does, it's no wonder they don't want anything to do with our God. Why would they if being Christian doesn't change our lives? Being a Christian is more than just being saved to spend eternity with God. That's a wonderful part of the equation but we're also called to represent Him here on earth and that is both an incredible joy and an awesome responsibility. As the old saying goes, "You may be the only Jesus people ever see." What are they seeing in you? Until next time, forget what everyone else is doing and concentrate on becoming the person God designed you to be through the cleansing power of His blood and the anointing and strengthening of His holy Spirit. Be blessed. Hallelu Yah (Praise God)! Kevin YOU ARE Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you are assured of success. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. You have value in the eyes of God so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. Are you looking for a changed life? Are you looking to be used for something of great importance and for your life to have meaning? Look to a personal relationship with Jesus of Nazareth. If you want to know how that's possible simply email us and we'll send you some Bible verses that will explain it to you You can simply begin the relationship by honestly and completely opening your heart, admitting you need God's help, and saying a prayer along the lines of: Jesus: I have made many mistakes in my life and done things I am not proud of. I have sinned. I need your love and forgiveness. I believe that you came into this world and gave your life on a cross to pay for my sins and that you defeated death and rose again. Please forgive me, and be the Lord of my life. I give my life to you Lord. Amen If you pray this prayer for the first time let me know so I can rejoice with you. Did you know that at Gleanings, we have a dedicated team of prayer warriors and all prayer concerns are kept strictly confidential? Your comments, your questions and your joys are shared with the prayer team, to keep me accountable as the head of the ministry and to encourage them as they see God at work in your life. As with prayer all these things are kept confidential within the Gleanings team. To share your questions, comments, thoughts, prayer concerns and praise reports email us If you enjoyed this issue of Gleanings From The Word, email it, in its entirety, to a friend. For information on use of Gleanings in your church newsletter or other situations please visit the permissions page . You can write to us at Gleanings From The Word Ministries International 114 Oak St Sherwood Park, AB Canada T8A 0V8 © 2003 K.F. "Kevin" Corbin Gleanings From The Word Ministisries International - All Rights Reserved
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