Wayne Murphey
For many people, the world we live in is nothing more than a stage on which to perform. Society is swept away in the admiration of those who perform the best, whether in entertainment or the business realm. From childhood up there is a feverish pitch to out perform competition.
This same characteristic can even invade the religious world. There are those who employ nearly any type of gimmick in order to swell the numbers on a membership roll. This is their focus. For others, the emphasis is on how much money can be raised so that "good deeds" can be financed.
This mentality is foreign and contrary to the life which Christ lived. To perform means to do something in order to receive recognition, whether it be applause or promotion. Applause and promotion may come our way, but these should not be the force motivating our spiritual walk, or the work of the Lord.
When Christ met blind Bartimaeus outside of Jericho, He did a wonderful thingãHe healed him! Notice how Jesus did it. He simply told Bartimaeus, "Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole." There was no grandstanding by Christ, but a practical application of God's power. His was a service to mankind, not a performance. The two are as opposite as pride and humility.
A worthy question for all of us to ponder from time to time is: Does my Christian life include any performing?
To help answer that, ask yourself another question. Am I motivated by what people think? This can get real close. Consider it closely.
Why do we do what we do?
Do we talk, act or dress a particular way in order to receive the approval of others? Do we preach and teach certain things because we want our numbers to swell or because we want certain conditions to exist? What is our true purpose, reason and motive? Are our actions an earnest effort to honor God or are our decisions politically motivated? Is our desire to be in harmony with God, to be His servant, imparting the essence of eternal life to others, or do we prefer to impress people with our own holiness? Is our focus to minister God's grace in such a sweet, humble way that it will draw sinners to salvation, and saints to service? Or are we set upon establishing ourselves as "pillars of righteousness?" Is our supreme desire to humble ourselves before God and do His will, with His heart, with His love, with His spiritãwith the true quality of His grace? Let us ask ourselves again, "Are we performing?"
God instituted a divine Church upon earth in which the Holy Spirit is the source of its inspiration. We cannot afford to go outside the boundaries of God's Spirit and operate in the flesh, even for what we perceive as "the cause." Our goal must be to pattern ourselves after the spirit and life of Jesus Christ, and that exculsively.
God's Word tells us that in a future event this world will stop its orbit with a jolt and eternity will descend upon us. If at that time we have lived our lives as a performance, all the applause of men will mean nothing. It will vanish in an instant. All that will be left will be dry disappointment. Jesus stated it this way, "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven." Matt. 6:1.
Those whose lives and works have been truly motivated by God's Holy Spirit, will hear these words on that day, "His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy lord." Matt. 25:23.
We are thankful for the way things are progressing here at the Print Shop. In the last month, a sizeable amount of literature has been printed and processed.
For several months we have been operating the offices, mail room, store area and darkroom in the new Print Shop facility, and we have immensely enjoyed the wonderful accommodations. The fresh environment provides a real uplift in which to work.
Since it is our usual custom to omit printing the August Faith and Victory, our plans are to move the presses and bindery department to the new facility either the last of July or first of August, depending upon the availability of electricians and moving equipment. We ask for your prayers that this can be expedited efficiently.
As noted on the front page of this Faith and Victory, the National Camp Meeting at Monark Springs, MO, will be held, Lord willing, July 21-30. The Print Shop Bookstore on the camp grounds will be stocked and open for your convenience. We invite everyone to stop in and see what is available.
We have an ongoing thanksgiving in our hearts for those who continue to support the gospel printing work. It requires much to sustain an operation of this sort and it could not be accomplished without those who carry a burden and an interest for the work of the Lord here. May God bless each of you is our prayer.
Love in Christ, ãBro. Wayne Murphey
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