Most of humanity spends great periods of their lifetime standing in line.  This process is often not our first pleasure; nevertheless, we get in line whenever there is something we want.  Maybe, like me, you have stood in line to ride a roller coaster at Kings’ Island, or maybe, like many, you have stood in line to purchase the groceries that will become the family dinner.  In line may come in the form of sitting to receive, such as sitting in a chair, waiting to receive a service like a pedicure or a haircut.  Sitting in line may also be necessary when our vehicle needs an oil change, or the most famous line sitting:  waiting at a stop light for the green light to display.  However, if a line formed for suffering, most would not stand or sit in that line, excited to receive the suffering that would come when we reached the front of the line.  Suffering has never been a pleasant experience, but that is what the apostle Paul writes to the believers living in Philippi.  Believers are “to suffer for His sake, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.”

• Are we living at a time when standing in your faith causes persecution?
• Could standing in your faith lead to your death?
• Are we in control of our remaining lifetime of days that have been counted out into our account, the days God ordained for us to live?
• Are we a citizen of heaven, saved by the grace of God?
• Does the Lord Jesus call us to stand boldly, proclaiming to the watching world—in whom we trust?

May we stand for the gospel, for the good news preached for Christ.

Unity comes from within.  May we allow the Word of God to dwell within us, to conform all of us, the body of Christ, helping us remain focused on Christ, as we submit to God’s Holy Spirit.

May we, in unity of the Spirit, stand firm.

• Christ Jesus Himself encouraged His followers to love others as He loved us.
• Our Lord revealed how the redeemed of God are to serve in fellowship, being led by the Spirit of God.
• The Son of God demonstrated through His life and death how to live compassionate toward others.

We are to be “maintaining the same love,” and the body of Christ is to be “united in spirit,” as we focus our whole lives “intent on one purpose”—sharing our testimony to build the kingdom of God.

Therefore, whether we are sitting in the optometrist’s office, waiting for our annual eye exam, OR standing in the check-out line, waiting to pay for our groceries, LET US BE ON MISSION.

Whether we are sitting at our dinner tables eating a meal with others, OR standing in line at the Dollar General to purchase our home supplies, LET US BE AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST.

The missionary Hudson Taylor said:  “The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed.”

We have received the gift of God:  Our Salvation.

• May be not selfishly take the Good News with us to our grave, but may we unselfishly share Jesus with those we encounter each day.
• May we love our neighbors as we love ourselves, unselfishly serving as the hands and feet of Jesus.

Will we suffer?  Maybe.  Will we be ostracized?  Probably.

Will we please Father God when we suffer as Jesus also suffered?  Most Definitely.

Jesus is Coming!

Let us actively live out our faith in a dying and lost world, and let us love as Jesus taught us to love.