God reveals His graceful nature daily by giving humankind multiple opportunities to come to the knowledge of the truth and get wisdom. Scripture says: ask and it shall be given. God needs a standing army of disciples to carry out the Great Commission and serve Him in spirit and truth. The training for this mission requires continually practicing what we preach. We learn to be faithful and walk worthy of our calling. God measures our commitment by our faithfulness. "If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won't be honest with greater responsibilities" (Luke 16:10). Overseers (leaders) must arm themselves with the truth and practice it to the end.
God wants people willing to hold the line and contest ideas that rise against the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. Lying, divisiveness, and mean-spiritedness are not part of the Gospel Message. Ministers are front-line workers who witness that "Everything in the Scriptures is God's Word. All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live" (2 Timothy 3:16). For the sake of humankind, it is beneficial to abide by the Lord's Way and His Truth. We believe with every fiber of our being that teaching the Word of God and correcting false doctrine will guide humankind to the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).
The Lord's Army is recruiting people who will speak the truth in love, not just to a brother or sister, but to strangers or foreigners as well. If you take a position on the front line, you must "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). We must be willing to keep watch over ourselves and abide by God's will as we equip ourselves for the work of the ministry.
Commit to speaking words that build character. Feed the children, sanctify them, and tell the truth to anyone who visits your house. "Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person" (Colossians 4:6). We are the salt of the earth and if we lose our flavor, then what? It is imperative that we sanctify ourselves for the Lord and "always be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your hope" (1 Peter 3:15).
Strive to keep your body holy and maintain the security of the temple of God, so evil does not enter. Submit to God and open your heart to the counsel of the Holy Spirit. Correct those who oppose God, praying they will suppress their rebellious attitude. "God is Spirit, and those who worship God must be led by the Spirit to worship him according to the truth" (John 4:24, CEV).
Minister Nettie Pennington, Associate Minister, Springfield MB Church
