Choose
An easy question:
What is the primary purpose of an ink pen?
The answer, of course, is that the primary purpose of a pen is to write.
A $300 gold pen may look very attractive and may impress people, but if it is out of ink, it is a complete failure as a pen. It is not fulfilling its purpose. It is useless!
In fact, when it comes to endorsing a pay cheque, the owner will quickly bypass the useless gold pen and use a 20 cent biro. It does the job.
In the service of Christ,
are we just as useless as a solid gold pen that is out of ink?
Are we like a solid gold pen in appearance:
always on show, seemingly busy,
but achieving nothing of eternal value?
Or are we like the humble 20 cent biro,
serving its purpose without fuss?
God chooses to use a humble Spirit filled Christian,
ready and available and willing
to do the work to which He calls us.
Or maybe some of us are like a solid gold pen,
filled with ink and ready to achieve its purpose?
When we allow the love and light of the indwelling Christ
to shine from us,
HE will attract people to Himself
and allow us the privilege of being used by Him to show them the Way.
2 Corinthians 5:19-20
God is in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself . . .
and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
We are ambassadors for Christ
Matthew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men
that they may see your good works
and glorify your Father in heaven.
MEETING IN THE CLOUDS 
Pingback: Let Your Light So Shine Before Men | bummyla
Hi Angela, I will respond to your comments on my Blog, sorry but you are going to get an inbox full, I just found out how to reply.
What you shared is very True but we also need to remember how God views us… I will put some links and Scripture below too but for now be assured He does not consider us worthless or Jesus would not have died for us, we are made in God’s image even if fallen, in Christ Jesus God sees us as His Priceless Tressure, yes perhaps in cracked vessels, I have more weaknesses and shortcomings then most others but He is the Super glue who refines us and conforms us into the image of Jesus Christ and takes away all our unrighteousness and then calls us a Holy Nation.
Yes to the world we may seem worthless and we are despised but not to Him. God also tells us He delights in us and sings over us, that His thoughts for us out number the sand every day, that His plans for us are good not bad, that we are precious to Him and always was, that He chooses not to see us when we are still in the flesh as being so, but beautiful and perfected in Love and even in His greatness He chooses to need us …. How good is this! … we must never call ourselves junk, God does not make junk.
He causes us to Shine as Stars in the Universe, how Great and Awesome is our God and how amazing that we are called His Children, He is our Daddy our Abba Father.. He Loves us so much and we are to have His Love for others and ourselves and in Christ Jesus our Love for Him will be beyond measure because it will be His Love given by the empowering of The Holy Spirit so as we choose to walk in Love, we can walk in Love which is a package deal and is called the Fruit of The Spirit.
I Love you in Christ Jesus Angela, or as I say – Christian Love Anne.
1Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
1 Peter 2:9. But ye are a Chosen Generation, a Royal Priesthood, an Holy Nation, a Peculiar People; that ye should shew forth the Praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous Light;
Blog posts….
http://alifeofhopeandjoy.wordpress.com/2011/10/23/how-god-views-us-2/
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Anne, I am at a loss to understand why you would think that I think God considers us worthless. Far from it! Since He gave His most treasured Son for me, I must be of exceptional worth to Him. He adopted me into His own family. He pours His love on me in abundance. His abiding presence assures me of His constant care and direction. Junk? No way! I am His beloved child.
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How good that you do Angela, but how could anyone doubt it after reading your posts, it was not you I was referring too, sorry that I caused you to think so, it was general, so often I have heard we are worms or just crumbs on the floor and that God causes or willingly wants us to suffer, perhaps with my being Dyslectic I don’t express myself well and others have been confused … you would say the cat sat on the mat… I would say the mat the cat sat on both saying the same thing but yours flows better and is much easier to understand. I do check and recheck but still miss errors so I’m sorry but I’m grateful that you realise how Beautiful you are in God’s eyes, by the way the last link I posted called Woman of Strength, I chose because that is how I see you.
Christian Love Anne.
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QUOTE:….”but more telling is that fact that my Christ is judged by what is observed in me”….if those who profess to love Christ lived with this axiom in mind every minute of every day, the entire world would have been converted centuries ago.
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Amen brakelite. Of course, there are some who just won’t believe, no matter what evidence is presented, but if more Christians lived as they should, there would be more people saying “I want what he/she has got!”
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Hi Angela, thank you for your encouragement on my Blog and your support, I have to keep joining up with everyone including myself, so I’m not getting posts I have had someone check but they they don’t know why, so I’m joining up again with each one individually but I can’t find how to see if I am still with you, anyway if you find me gone, I’m not really.
When I read your message two things came to mind although I did agree with everything you shared it was good and is indeed all about Jesus not how good we are in ourselves, without Him we are nothing with Him…… Wow!
Jesus warned us that if we follow Him we will be rejected by those who reject His Truth, to them we will be a bad odour to those being saved a beautiful fragrance. As for Pride and I have shared this before but we do need to remember the Scriptures talk about fleshy pride, or worldly pride and also Godly Pride there is a big difference but you probably are aware of this.
What Worldly Pride is…
Mark 7:22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, Pride, foolishness:
1 John 2:15- 17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the Love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the Pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
What Godly Pride is …
Galatians 6: 4 Each one should understand their own actions. Then they can take Pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to others.
2 Corinthians 8:24 show these men the proof of your Love and the reason for our Pride in you, so that the Churches can see it.
2 Corinthians 5:11-12 Because we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. It is plain to God what we are, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. We are giving you an opportunity to take Pride in us not trying to commend ourselves again to you , so that you have an answer for those who take Pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart.
Romans 11:13b I take Pride in my Ministry as I’m sure you do Angela.
Take Care in Jesus – Christian Love Anne.
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Pride . . . I believe pride was the first sin, committed by Lucifer, and is at the base of every sin. For example, we get angry because our pride is hurt; we retaliate to protect our self-worth, pride. If we could conquer pride, the devil wouldn’t have so many (temporary) victories.
On the other hand, there is, as you say, a Godly pride. While we know that of ourselves, we are and can do nothing, we would be less than nothing if we went about in some sort
of false humility, and would not achieve anything worthwhile. When I consider things that I have achieved I am awestruck. I shake my head and wonder how on earth I did them. Of course, I know the answer: it wasn’t me, it was God working in and through me, enabling
me. Even though it wasn’t REALLY my work, I can have pride in what we achieved and I can continue with confidence.
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It’s so True Angela what you shared, fleshy pride is not of God nor is fleshy anger but we also can experience righteous anger as Jesus showed us and also Paul, and not all anger is sin, but we can sin in our anger by holding onto resentment and bitterness sadly a lot do it is like mixing the poison for those who hurt them but drinking it themselves, like cancer it eats them away because Satan then has a foothold. Loving our enemies in the flesh is impossible but by the empowering of The Holy Spirit no problem, we choose to and He does the rest, we are no longer in bondage to sin… How good is that! Christian Love Anne
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Hi Angela,
I could relate to this particular post on a couple of levels. First of all, for lack of a better way of saying it, I am an ink pen enthusiast. I happen to prefer the finer pens, as opposed to the $.20 pens. I like the feel of the finer pens in my hand, as well as the way they glide across the paper. However, if my “expensive” pen was out of ink when I needed to endorse a check, I would lay it aside immediately, and reach for the $.20 biro pen!
When I think of myself, I would much rather be like the “humble 20 cent biro,
serving its purpose without fuss.” I want to decrease, so that God would increase in my life. I want others to see the Jesus in me, and not Paulette. After all, it isn’t about me, but it is ALL about Him! I want the light of the Lord to shine brightly in my life, so that others would see my good works, and glorify the Father who is in heaven. I realize that being a representative for the Lord on the Earth, is a huge responsibility, one which I do not take lightly! When the Son of man cometh, may He find me faithful!
Love,
Paulette
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Paulette, thank you for adding those thoughts. I agree with you on both counts. I also prefer a smooth-flowing ink pen that is nice to look at even though not gold or expensive, but I also use the ordinary biro for “scribbling” notes.
When it comes to self, I am an ordinary biro put to extraordinary use in the hands of the Master. I am nothing, but my prayer is that people will not see me, but the Christ who lives in me and that they will glorify Him. Without Him I am nothing.
Yes, being His representative is an enormous responsibility, but it is an even greater privilege and His rewards are beyond words.
What an amazing God!
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Thank you, Angela
Wonderful truths that require much reflection…Made me think of the king who ate grass. And what Paul said about filthy rags. And what He said about coming quickly with His reward.
When you have a moment, do hop over and read Minister Paulette`s latest submission. http://pbus1.wordpress.com/2011/10/24/semper-fidelis-pt-2/ You have both given me a lot to think on.
What others see when they see me adds up to nothing if they don’t see the Christ in me.
Blessings,
ann
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<< "What others see when they see me adds up to nothing if they don’t see the Christ in me
So true Ann. I think of the words penned by Annie Johnson Flint:
We are the only Bible the careless world will read;
We are the sinner's Gospel, we are the scoffer's creed.
We are the Lord's last message, given in deed and word;
What if the type is crooked? What if the print is blurred?
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Oh this is good Angela! God doesn’t look at our ability but our availability! Some circles consider me valuable others a waste of good air. However the question is not what men see in me but what does God see in me? If it is yieldedness then my value in the world’s eyes is not important!
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>> “My value in the world’s eyes is not important”
So true!
I just pray that they will see Christ in me and learn of His love and come to know Him as I do.
Nothing else matters.
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Angela,
What a great principle that we all need to be reminded of . How many of us, find ourselves forgetting about our Lord and His desires, and simply “serve” Him so others may see us? I think we are all tempted to fall intoo this trap. Your posti reminded me of 2Cor 10:4:
4) (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
How important to remember that if our service is not empowered by the Lord, it is of no value. (No matter how “great” it may look in the sight of others.)
May the Lord continue to bless you.
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From all accounts Paul was not a “gold pen” on the outside but he was filled with “ink” and ready and available to be used by his Master. Paul was – and is – greatly used by God to reach people in all walks of life with the message of salvation and he himself declared that God does not choose the strong and wise, but He uses the weak and foolish – ones who depend on Him.
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Angela . . .you have me thinking about being Ambassadors for Christ. Being humble and useful and not getting caught up in the showiness of the world. I love the analogies He brings to you and how you share them with us! God bless you as you shine His light daily!
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Being an ambassador is a huge responsibility Deb. My country is judged by the behaviour, words and attitude of our ambassadors. When an ambassador speaks, he speaks with the authority of the country that send him.
Putting that into a Scriptural context, I speak on behalf of the One who sent me, but more telling is that fact that my Christ is judged by what is observed in me. How challenging! What an awesome responsibility!
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