jesuscalling :
Are you willing to be a prisoner for the Lord?
When accepting and fully understanding the boundless ‘Grace of God’, a penitent sinner not only accepts the saving grace of God, they also accept everything God has in store for them within His Almighty purposes.
None of us, in our own strength, are able to live up to God's stringent demands. without the strength and guidance of His Holy Spirit we do not have the capacity to even '
be willing'. Whatever we require in order to do God's will is entirely supplied by God, at the moment we have need of it.
Therefore it is not really a question of the individual ‘being willing’ to undergo suffering ‘for the Lord’.
The danger might be that we see 'discipleship' and 'vocation' as if it is similar to a military person ‘volunteering for a dangerous mission, with the prospect of decoration if it succeeds”.
It is more a question of being aware that ‘Full and Free Undeserved Salvation’ is worthy of no less a personal response than complete and total subjection to the ‘Inscrutable Will of God’ and acceptance of our fate as being firmly ‘within the providence of the God of our salvation’ and therefore our duty to endure with patience whatever God has ordained for us, while acting in His service.
In other words, after having done all that God requires of us, we yet still should say, ‘We are servants only, undeserving of the Gift of God’s Grace and Salvation.’
Anyone who has not considered these things before becoming a ‘Servant of The Lord’ is like a person who is building a tower without first estimating the projected cost. Sooner or later someone is going to look foolish.
A life lived for God is a life surrendered to and dependent upon The Holy Spirit.
Beware of making rash promises to God, particularly about how you are 'willing' to suffer for His sake. Peter made that mistake. His lesson is there for our education and Spiritual enlightenment.
'Willingness' has little to do with it.
Being sensitive and responsive to the leading of The Holy Spirit in every situation is the key to knowing and doing God’s will. Patient endurance in adversity is a gift we should hope to receive from God only when it is required by circumstance.
Regards Chris.
