Your Sphere of Influence: Committed Christian Worker

via TJC

“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” 2 Corinthians 13:5 NIV

This past week TJC has done a dangerous thing in labeling people (non or pre, cultural, new, prodigal) as to their faith, and how we know Christ and interact with others. But as people called to be Christ-like - we are called to mirror the character and conduct of Christ.  There is no other way.  Jesus is to be the very center of our work, family, and all other aspects of life; and there is a test.  I say dangerous because we (TJC) arbitrarily assigned a label to a person’s faith maturity; and what we think we see in others; but there are traits we should use to test ourselves and build in one another. Personally I chose TJC as my ministry as I need to surround myself with men testing themselves. 

Philippians-4 details six characteristics we should test and be building in committed Christians (Tom Holland – “Reason to Rejoice”)

-A Committed Christian Has Stability of Character; Phil 4:1

-A Committed Christian Rejoices in the Lord; Phil 4:4

-A Committed Christian is Always Praying; Phil 4:6-7

-A Committed Christian Controls Their Thoughts; Phil 4-8

-A Committed Christian has Contentment in the Heart; Phil 4:11-12

-A Committed Christian Has a Fruitful Life; Phil 4:15-17

Daily Battle Order:

John Wesley wrote a challenging prayer to express his commitment and personal challenges.  Read the following and consider if you would earnestly pray and ask this of God. (which I hope you read, but be honest – do you ever consider these DBOs for even 30 seconds?) 

“I am no longer my own, but thine.

Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.

Put me to doing, put me to suffering.

Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee,

exalted for thee or brought low for thee.

Let me be full, let me be empty.

Let me have all things, let me have nothing.

I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.

And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

thou art mine, and I am thine.

So be it.

And the covenant which I have made on earth,

let it be ratified in heaven.

Amen.”

-John Wesley, The Wesley Covenant Prayer