Cariad group posted: " Hello Cariad Ladies, I'm Lynda, I've been a Christian for 13 years, and fellowship with a wonderful family of happy believers in St Clears, Carmarthenshire. I'm a member of "Good News for Everyone", (formerly, the Gideons.), and have a passion "
I'm Lynda, I've been a Christian for 13 years, and fellowship with a wonderful family of happy believers in St Clears, Carmarthenshire. I'm a member of "Good News for Everyone", (formerly, the Gideons.), and have a passion for sharing the gospel.
It's wonderful to be part of Cariad, Thank you Becky for being obedient, following the nudges of the Holy Spirit and bringing this group into being.
God creates beautiful things and Cariad sure is "beautiful".
So, moving on from the breastplate of righteousness, and stepping in to bring you some thoughts on the shoes of readiness.
"For shoes put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared" (Ephesians 6:15)
When I first came to faith, the wonders of the Old Testament prophecies concerning Jesus' birth, Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6 and the picture of the cross described in Isaiah 53, blew me away!!! Seven hundred or so years before Jesus was born and there in the Old Testament, the prophetic voice was crying out as a voice in the wilderness, pointing the Israelites then, and us today to Jesus. The messianic prophecies, of which there are estimated to be over three hundred, are like the icing on the cake, adding glory to the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement for our PEACE was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5)
In Jesus, our feet are firmly rooted and grounded in LOVE.
The message of the cross is incomparable, there's no other news like it, it's GLORIOUS, the same, yesterday, today and forever. The Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ never changes, it surely is good news for everyone.
Jesus told his disciples "go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creatures. He who believes and is baptised will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned (Mark 16:15-16)
We, His followers, know that this great commission is directed to us, we're all on mission to point others to Christ, to walk in our Saviour's love. As the prophet, Micah puts it, we should do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God. That surely is good (Micah 6:8)
"How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!" (Isaiah 52:7)
Isaiah's vision was simply stunning, here Isaiah saw the beauty in the feet of those bringing the good news, Wow, that's us today, Let us remind ourselves continually that we have an awesome message and that our God reigns no matter how dark the world gets.
Practically speaking, how do we share the gospel? Are we all called to preach?
I need to remind myself daily, that I'm a servant of the Lord; it's all too easy to let the world pass by the window without giving a second thought to sharing the gospel. Often it can be our own inhibitions, shyness, lack of confidence that stops us from sharing Jesus with others. Stand firm in the faith! (1 Corinthians 16:13),
"I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles" (Romans 1:16)
We have a message that is worthy of all our praise.
Having on the shoes of readiness, means having our hearts and minds engaged, prepared, and ready to speak truth to others, to give the Gospel that has transformed our lives, and brought us peace!
"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1) How noticeable to others is this peace in our lives?
Shoes of readiness,means walking in step with God, being filled with the Holy Spirit, hearing the quiet nudges and responding always in love to God's calling on your life.
To know Christ is the greatest gift ever, we truly are a blessed people, and as we know, blessed people bless others. "For we walk by faith and not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7)
Let us always have an answer,
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defence to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear, (1 Peter 3:15)
Christ has called us for such a time as this, to be His witness, His seed sowers, His love, His hands and feet, bringing Hope, Truth , Peace, to the world, being salt and light to those walking in darkness on the slippery path.
Jesus said "I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life" (John 8:12)
As the song goes, "this little light of mine, i'm going to let it shine"
Cariad , let us Shine awesomely for Jesus.
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10)
There's a lot of lost people in the world today in need of Jesus. However, we sow seeds, be it word of mouth, tracts, scripture, giving your testimony, have faith and confidence that it's going to do all God intends it to do,
"So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11)
Often it's the peace we carry when we go through troubled times that's a great witness to those who don't know Jesus. Perhaps, the arm of comfort, the listening ear, the spoken prayer that warms the unbeliever's heart.
In all this we thank God for the wonderful opportunities He gives us!
And over to the profound words of Jesus found in the Gospel of John,
"my peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you, I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14:27)
We have something the world cannot own, cannot buy, cannot earn; Jesus our Peace, wherever we go, wherever we are, our beautiful Jesus is with us
BE BRAVE….BE PREPARED….BE READY….we are ambassadors for Jesus Christ, We will meet opposition, the world, the flesh and the devil are strongly opposed to the forwarding of the Gospel message. Let us always remember to put on the FULL ARMOUR OF GOD, we are His and He is ours, the battle belongs to the Lord.
A Prayer for Cariad
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!
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