What kind of impact has God made in your life? What is your response to what Jesus did for you about 2,000 years ago on the cross? Everyone that partakes in this precious gift of life must respond with a decision at some point as to whether they will accept His ultimate sacrifice of love or not. If it is accepted, it's real impact will be evident in our lives as we share the love of Christ with others. It is this love that we, as Firefighters for Christ, wish to portray on our mission trip to New York. We will be working under previously established organizations and will take the role of servants in an attempt to lend another helping hand to further their efforts. Titus 3: 1-2 instructs, "Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men."
We understand our unity of purpose as described in Philippians 2: 1-7. "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."
Why should we feel like we should take this attitude? It is because of the awesome gift of hope that Jesus gave us despite our undeserving position as enemies of God. "At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. "
So my prayer for us is this: "I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. (Philemon 6) And if it is God's will, those receiving will respond, "Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints." (Philemon 7) To God be the glory.
What kind of impact has God made in your life? What is your response to what Jesus did for you about 2,000 years ago on the cross? Everyone that partakes in this precious gift of life must respond with a decision at some point as to whether they will accept His ultimate sacrifice of love or not. If it is accepted, it's real impact will be evident in our lives as we share the love of Christ with others. It is this love that we, as Firefighters for Christ, wish to portray on our mission trip to New York. We will be working under previously established organizations and will take the role of servants in an attempt to lend another helping hand to further their efforts. Titus 3: 1-2 instructs, "Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men."