Has it ever dawned on you that you are responsible spiritually to
God for other people? For instance, if I allow any turning away from God
in my private life, everyone around me suffers. We “sit together in the heavenly places . . .” (Ephesians 2:6). “If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it . . .” (1 Corinthians 12:26).
If you allow physical selfishness, mental carelessness, moral
insensitivity, or spiritual weakness, everyone in contact with you will
suffer. But you ask, “Who is sufficient to be able to live up to such a
lofty standard?” “Our sufficiency is from God . . .” and God alone (2 Corinthians 3:5).
“You shall be witnesses to Me . . .” (Acts 1:8).
How many of us are willing to spend every bit of our nervous, mental,
moral, and spiritual energy for Jesus Christ? That is what God means
when He uses the word witness. But it takes time, so be patient
with yourself. Why has God left us on the earth? Is it simply to be
saved and sanctified? No, it is to be at work in service to Him. Am I
willing to be broken bread and poured-out wine for Him? Am I willing to
be of no value to this age or this life except for one purpose and one
alone— to be used to disciple men and women to the Lord Jesus Christ. My
life of service to God is the way I say “thank you” to Him for His
inexpressibly wonderful salvation. Remember, it is quite possible for
God to set any of us aside if we refuse to be of service to Him— “. . .
lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become
disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).
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