Dedication
Dedication
1 Corinthians 16:9
“for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”
Effectiveness brings adversaries just as motion makes friction. The church is engaged in a battle that is contrary to the philosophies, lifestyles, and truths this world lives by. The church’s message is that Jesus is the only savior, not idols nor desires of the heart.
I have noticed a pattern of strife and friction over the last few years during seasons of fruitfulness. I must admit, at first, I was taken aback by the trials. I didn’t understand why I was so hurt and surprised by opposition. In fact, the lack of adversaries should be a bigger indication of something wrong than many adversaries and trials.
Truthfully, I was injured by the opposition. This first happened when I began in youth ministry as a volunteer, and then again when I was a youth pastor, especially when I brought up issues of sin with leaders in our church; those issues led to the disqualification of those leaders and their removal from the work of ministry.
Opposition has been a consistent pattern in Vertical's work. As we grow, we have opposition from those hardened by sin. Think about it, it’s natural. The message of the cross confronts the sinner at the deepest part of their being, calling out motives, desires, and affections. The gospel radically imposes its will on the life of the hearer and requires subjection or rejection of its message.
Criticism peeks into the life of the believer during opposition, seeing what anchor holds in those moments of suffering and strife, revealing the idols or hopes in which a person has. A believer needs to dedicate themselves totally to the Lord. Dedication holds in times of fruitfulness, frustrations, and everything in between.
Take time and evaluate what you hold on to, and if you are willing to go through suffering for the sake of the gospel.
1 Corinthians 16:9
“for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”
Effectiveness brings adversaries just as motion makes friction. The church is engaged in a battle that is contrary to the philosophies, lifestyles, and truths this world lives by. The church’s message is that Jesus is the only savior, not idols nor desires of the heart.
I have noticed a pattern of strife and friction over the last few years during seasons of fruitfulness. I must admit, at first, I was taken aback by the trials. I didn’t understand why I was so hurt and surprised by opposition. In fact, the lack of adversaries should be a bigger indication of something wrong than many adversaries and trials.
Truthfully, I was injured by the opposition. This first happened when I began in youth ministry as a volunteer, and then again when I was a youth pastor, especially when I brought up issues of sin with leaders in our church; those issues led to the disqualification of those leaders and their removal from the work of ministry.
Opposition has been a consistent pattern in Vertical's work. As we grow, we have opposition from those hardened by sin. Think about it, it’s natural. The message of the cross confronts the sinner at the deepest part of their being, calling out motives, desires, and affections. The gospel radically imposes its will on the life of the hearer and requires subjection or rejection of its message.
Criticism peeks into the life of the believer during opposition, seeing what anchor holds in those moments of suffering and strife, revealing the idols or hopes in which a person has. A believer needs to dedicate themselves totally to the Lord. Dedication holds in times of fruitfulness, frustrations, and everything in between.
Take time and evaluate what you hold on to, and if you are willing to go through suffering for the sake of the gospel.
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