I have come to understand that who we are as followers of the Lord Jesus should never be measured solely by what we say, what we write, or what others see in us, but by the work that He has done within us. I want to make this perfectly clear, whatever compassion I possess, whatever conviction I hold, whatever patience I have learned, and whatever desire I have to carry the burdens of others is not something I can take credit for. It is the result of a Savior who met me where I was, loved me when I was undeserving, and began a work in me that I could never have accomplished on my own. I am not who I am today because I have somehow figured out how to live a better life because I struggle to be a Man of God; I am who I am because the Lord Jesus has been faithful to change my heart to make it more like His.

Over the years, I have become increasingly aware that the things that matter most in this life are not necessarily the things that receive the most attention. A sincere prayer, a genuine word of encouragement, a willingness to listen, or simply remembering someone when they are going through a difficult season can have an impact that we may never fully understand until we get to heaven. I believe these things matter because the Lord Jesus has taught me that people matter more than the pulpit. He has shown me that love is not something we simply speak about, but something we demonstrate through our actions, our sacrifices, and our willingness to put the needs of others before ourselves. Whatever good you may see in me, I pray that you recognize its source, because I know that apart from Him, I would have nothing of lasting value to offer to anyone.

Charles Spurgeon expressed a truth that I believe every follower of the Lord Jesus should continually remember: “I have a great need for Christ; I have a great Christ for my need.”

I am reminded quite often of what is written in Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. This is not simply a verse that I appreciate or a declaration that sounds good when spoken; it is a truth that I want reflected in every aspect of my life. The person I am becoming is not meant to be a monument to my own accomplishments, but a testimony to the transforming power of Christ in my life. My convictions, my compassion, my desire to serve, and even my willingness to acknowledge my shortcomings must all point back to Him. I have learned that the closer I draw to the Lord Jesus, the less I should desire recognition for myself and the more I should desire that others see Him through me. That is why I reflect continually on John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

I have not always possessed the patience that I desire to show others, nor have I always responded with the grace that I know I have received from God. There have been times when my own understanding, my emotions, and my expectations have gotten in the way of demonstrating the love of Christ to the world around me, and especially to those in front of me, those in my own home. Yet, through those moments, the Lord has continued to correct me, humble me, and remind me that spiritual growth is not about convincing myself that I have become better than I once was. It is about recognizing how much I still need Him and how much further I need to go. I am grateful that He does not abandon His children in the middle of their growth, and that His mercy is not exhausted by the number of times we need to be reminded of our dependence upon Him. Every lesson, every correction, and every opportunity to extend grace is another reminder that He is still working in me, on me, and through me.

I believe that one of the greatest evidences of the Lord Jesus working in a person’s heart is the way that person begins to view others. When we understand how much grace we have received, it becomes increasingly difficult to withhold grace from someone else. When we remember how patiently God has dealt with us, we should become more patient with those who are still struggling. When we recognize how often the Lord has carried us through seasons that others knew nothing about, we should become more attentive to the burdens that those around us may be carrying. This is why I believe that compassion should never be separated from conviction, and that truth should never be delivered without love. I do not want to be someone who can speak about the goodness of God but fail to demonstrate that goodness to the people He places in my path like so many others that I have witnessed in places of authority.

There are words that have always been a beautiful reminder of this truth. It is written in Philippians 1:6 And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you. I find great comfort in knowing that the Lord is not finished with me. There are still things He needs to teach me, attitudes He needs to correct, areas where I need to surrender, and opportunities where I need to demonstrate greater faithfulness. I do not want to become so comfortable with who I am that I stop allowing Him to shape who I should become. My greatest desire is not to be known as a person who has strong opinions, speaks with conviction, or has something meaningful to say, but as someone whose life reflects the character of the One who saved me. If there is kindness in my words, may it be because He has taught me kindness. If there is strength in my convictions, may it be because they are rooted in His truth. If there is compassion in my heart, may it be because He first showed compassion to me.

I also understand that none of this means I will always get things right, and I would never want to give anyone the impression that I have somehow arrived at a place where I no longer fail. I have days when I need encouragement, moments when I need correction, and seasons when I need someone else to remind me of the very truths I encourage others to remember. I need prayer just as much as the persons I pray for, and I need the grace of God just as much as the person to whom I try to extend it. There is no place in the body of Christ for believing that we are somehow above the struggles of our brethren. We are all recipients of mercy, all dependent upon the same Savior, and all in need of His continued work in our lives. I pray that I never become so focused on encouraging others that I forget to remain humble enough to receive encouragement myself.

Dear hearers, I want to encourage you to remember that the person you are today should be a reflection of what the Lord Jesus has done in your life, not simply what you have accomplished through your own efforts. If you have become more patient, give Him the glory. If you have learned to forgive, give Him the glory. If you have developed a greater compassion for those who are hurting, a stronger desire to pray, or a deeper commitment to walk according to His Word, give Him the glory. These are not reasons to become prideful or to compare ourselves with others; they are reasons to become more grateful and more devoted to the One who makes transformation possible. Let us never forget that the purpose of spiritual growth is not to make ourselves appear impressive to the world, but to make the goodness of Christ more evident through the way we live.

I am reminded of the words found in 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. What a beautiful truth this is for anyone who has experienced the saving grace of the Lord Jesus. Our past does not have to define our future, our failures do not have to determine our usefulness, and our weaknesses do not have to prevent us from serving Him faithfully. The Lord can take a heart that was once hardened and teach it to love, take a life that was once consumed with itself and teach it to serve, and take someone who once struggled to find hope and make them an instrument of encouragement to others. I am thankful that He did not leave me where He found me, and I pray that my life will continue to reflect the evidence of His transforming grace.

As I consider the person I am today, I cannot separate any meaningful part of that person from the Lord Jesus. My desire to pray for others, my concern for those who feel forgotten, my convictions about living according to Scripture, and my willingness to speak about the goodness of God are all connected to what He has done in my life. I do not claim these things as personal achievements, nor do I believe that possessing them makes me more important than anyone else. I simply recognize that I have been given much grace, and I have a responsibility to let that grace be seen in the way I treat others. I pray that when people encounter me, they will leave with a greater appreciation for the Lord Jesus rather than a greater appreciation for me. That is the kind of testimony I want my life to carry, especially as I grow closer to the day of my death than the day of my birth..

I pray that each of us will become increasingly mindful of the work God is doing in our hearts and increasingly willing to surrender the areas that still need His attention. May we never become so concerned with being recognized for our faith that we forget the One who gave us the faith in the first place. And may the people who cross our paths encounter something far greater than our personalities, our opinions, or our accomplishments; may they encounter the love, grace, truth, and hope of the Lord Jesus Christ. Whatever our past may hold, whatever our present circumstances may look like, and whatever challenges lie ahead, there is hope in knowing that the Savior who began a work in us is faithful. Let our lives be living testimonies of His goodness, and let everything we are becoming point back to everything He has done.

Please pray this prayer with me:

Heavenly Father, thank You for not leaving us where we were, but for loving us, redeeming us, and continuing to shape our hearts through the Lord Jesus Christ. Help us surrender our pride, our attitudes, our words, our accomplishments, and our actions so that every part of our lives reflects the grace and truth You have placed within us. Teach us to extend the same patience, forgiveness, compassion, and love to others that You have so faithfully extended to us, and remind us daily that every good thing in us has its source in You. May our lives never bring glory to ourselves at the expense of Your name, but may everything we do point others toward the saving grace and transforming power of Jesus Christ. May we never get so consumed with building our ministries that we neglect the ones we are to minister to, and Who we are to minister for. In Jesus’ precious and powerful name we pray, Amen.

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My BeLoved, may the grace and peace of the Lord Jesus, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen. In Christ Love, douglas. HE>i. pastord.blog

Special Note: I want to thank those who read what I write and are encouraged to support the ministry God has entrusted to me either one time or have decided to give on a monthly basis. I am encouraged to see certain verses playing out before my eyes like what is written in *Philippians 4:16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.*

To any who are interested, please feel free to reach out to me with prayer requests, questions, encouragement, or for information on how to come alongside me with financial support at pastord.blog@gmail.com or I do have a Zelle account associated with my phone number, 5202720387 last name Blaser. Thank you my Beloved for your ongoing prayers and support.