Reflections and Desire
By Kyle Blackwell
As I look back on 2022, there are many areas of my life that need a good butt whooping. I think of Paul and how he always spoke of running the race to win, and fighting the good fight. Sure, I can say that I’ve done this or that, but does that make me any different than the non-christian who believes they’ll be in Heaven on judgement day based on the premise they performed many good deeds, or they are “actually a pretty good person”? I have one question for you, myself included, to think about for the new year. If Christ is in you, how are you any different from anyone else you see on the streets in your day-to-day life? As believers, we are called to be holy as Christ was holy. In other words, Christ was saying we need to be set apart, which was exactly what God wanted from the Israelites in the Old Testament as well. And no, I don’t care that you go to church. Who cares about the fact that you run the sound board every Sunday, teach in children’s church, perform on the drama team, or teach Awanas. I did all those things, yet I was a fraud. For 22 years I lived under the false belief I was destined for Heaven because I said a prayer. I was really a wolf in sheep’s clothing No, I am questioning the character you have as a man or woman outside those four walls called a church. 1 Corinthians 6:19 states that our body is a temple for Holy Spirit. If the only place you’re holy is at church, you have a very small god. My God, however, knows your innermost being. My God knows who I am when I’m all alone. My God can also see how I act around my coworkers. Would people be surprised if you told them you’re a “Christian”? Maybe it is because you are not a follower of Christ at all.
I don’t know about you, but I know I can do better. John 3:34 says God gives the Spirit without limit. Meaning, if your desire is to be spoon fed the gospel, God will give you a little bit of this, and a little bit of that. If you wish to have a bucket of water, your bucket will be filled. But if you crave to be filled deep as the Mariana Trench, God will abundantly fill you with an overflowing of Holy Spirit that you cannot and will not contain. You will be shouting from the roof tops the Glory and Majesty of Jesus Christ. That is my desire for 2023. I wish to see mountains moved. The Holy Spirit that was alive and well in the book of Acts is still here today. But we have to crave to be closer to Him. I am not talking about works. This is about an undeniable Love for the God I serve.
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge -Hosea 4:6
