Is your marker up?
Genesis 31:48, Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me this day….”
For 20 years Jacob had served Laban, seven for each of his daughters and six more for his flock. Laban recognized that he had been blessed because of Jacob’s faithfullness to him and the Lord. Now however the Word of the Lord had come to Jacob in a dream, and told him to go back to the land of his father’s, Canaan. Perhap’s because of fear for retribution from Laban Jacob took his wives and his servant’s and left for the land that God sent him to secretly.
When Laban discovered that they had left he pursued Jacob, and when he caught up he asked why Jacob had left secretly. Jacob answered that he was afraid that Laban would not allow Jacob to leave peacefullt, but he might have a violent reaction to the desires that Jacob had to serve his God.
This is a perfect illustration of how Satan reacts when we decide to follow God’s lead. As long as we say we believe in God but don’t do anything to prove it Satan is quite happy. If we go to church every time the doors are open, but never share our faith about Jesus Christ then we don’t bother Satan one bit. However, when we try to serve the Lord and do as He wishes then Satan will bring the full power of hell down on us. That’s why I’m so glad thatwe are reminded in I John 4:4, “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” No power that Satan has at his disposal can hurt us if we are following God. The question is are we truly following God, or are we just giving Him lip service. Isaiah 29:13, “…this people draw near with their words And honor Me with their lip service, But they remove their hearts far from Me, And their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote,”
Lip service does no one any good if we give lip service to our God, and do not serve Him then we are defiling His Name, and if we only give lip service then we are fooling ourselves. Jesus said in Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.” Salvation requires more than “lip service”; I’m not trying to be legalistic, but when you are saved by Jesus Christ He will give you a new heart that desires to serve Him.
When the Lord comes into your life then He sets up a marker to symbolize His love for you. The marker that God has set up for everyone that calls on His Name is the Cross of Cavalry. It is a sign of His love for us, and a reminder to us that whatever happens He will never leave us or forsake us.
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Father, I thank You for sending Jesus to prove Your Love for me, and to establish a marker between me and You that I might look at and remember; let me give You my service so that others will see how great You are. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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The image above can be found at:
http://www.dramainnature.com/photograph_of_the_cross_poster.htm
Yes, You Can Ministry 