As I meditate on the Word of God and how He has led us, strengthened us, tested us, tempered and delivered us through this past year, I am in awe.

God’s Holy Word reigns supreme at Lake Drummond Baptist Church.  This should be a reason to shout from the house tops!  Yet, His Word tests our ambitions, our thoughts, our intentions and our goals.

I’d be lying to you were I to say this has been an easy year.  Yet, shouldn’t adversity and rejection from the world be expected by the children of a just and holy God?  Should we not expect the world to reject the message of our Saviour?  Should we not expect to be wounded in the battlefield that God has called us to be his ambassadors to?

This is a hard saying to be sure, but Jesus didn’t call us to put on our dancing clothes and go to the ball.  Jesus calls us to put on His armor and go to war against the forces of darkness in this world.  The world wishes us to be at peace . . . but that cannot happen without the follower of Christ just laying down His armor and following the world.  Jesus conquered sin and death with His sacrifice for us upon the cross nevertheless we will not be apart from the presence of sin until He receives us unto Himself.  Until that day comes, we march in His name, we witness in His name, we live in His name and we will die in His name.

In Luke 9:23, Jesus, . . .”said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”  Taking up my cross doesn’t mean just carrying something for my Lord.  Taking up “MY” cross means that I am denying myself, my wants, my agendas and I am now willing to die upon this cross for my Saviour whom died for me!  Daily I need to die to self and walk in my Lord’s shadow until He calls me home.  Daily I must thrust the worldly cares that beset me away.  Daily I must trust in His words to sustain me.  Daily I must be a willing vessel for my Lord to use.  Daily.

You may say in your heart, I don’t know, Buddy.  This is a hard saying.  You’d be right.  This walk is not for the faint of heart . . . it is for children of the living God.  Jesus is not calling us to lessen our life but to make it full!  As we walk in His glory, obedient to His Word, God will be glorified though our lives.  Think about it, as others see Him in us they will want what we have and what better gift could be offered this season . . . but life eternal with our Lord?

Let us live that others may see Him in us.

Blessings from my KING!

Pastor Buddy