Run and Finish Strong

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

Do you ever wonder what is the difference between a teacher and a preacher of the word of God? In the simplest form, both try to give a clear explanation of God’s Word, and the preacher puts the life application behind it; no one is higher than the other, and you cannot be a preacher without being a teacher; you cannot expound on what you do not understand. But, there is also simplicity found in the complexity of these definitions; you must have a heart for God to the point you cannot contain what you have been given by him. You must not seek to live Christianity alone, you must expound the scriptures as you have been given the scriptures; you must become a mouthpiece for the Lord to use to encourage others around you. Paul wrote of these hearts of evangelists, of the preachers that sought to share with all whom they encounter. Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” There are some men that are truly called by God to dedicate their lives to him, to study God’s Word and expound on it deeply from the conviction and blessing of that call of God, but as a child of God you are also called to preach God’s Word to your circle of influence. The Holy Spirit can and will open your heart to understanding as he chooses, and without the heartfelt pursuit of him through prayer and the study of his Word, you are disobeying the call of God on your life, the call Paul has wrote of in the passage above. God wants you to live your life for him, to dedicate your life, to die to your old life just as Jesus died for you, to live your life with eternity in view, to sacrifice yourself for the One who did the same for you; to live as Jesus did.

In recent weeks I have been asked these exact type questions of how do I live on my faith. I have been told of a understanding of the principles, but not the daily application of my faith. God opened big doors for me to walk through in faith, to share of the application of how my life works, revolving around my faith. 2 Corinthians 5:7 For we live by faith, not by sight. It is really simple once you give yourself over to it honestly. Once God opens your heart to the small understanding of his sovereign control over everything, you realize everything is going to be ok, no matter the highs or lows of this life, you have eternity with him in the heavenly mansions, in a heavenly body, with the One who created it all. I shared of my testimony, of my life before Christ, of a life full of sin and the pursuit of happiness by worldly standards. I also shared of how my life changed, how my views changed, when I began to pray and read my Bible every day. Without those two things, nothing will change, and eternity hangs in the balance. God will reveal himself to you, change your priorities, and align yourself to his will for your life, for the remainder of your life here. It all begins with the Gospel, with your understanding of your need for Jesus, and the next step is living your life for him, pursuing him to the finish of this temporal life, heading into the reward of the eternal life.