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WHAT IS MY VALUE IN THE EYES OF OUR LORD?
A Personal Testimony as an Example
Translated from Afrikaans: “Wat is my waarde in die oë van ons HERE? ‘n Persoonlike Getuienis as Voorbeeld”
Sakkie Parsons
Today I would like to have a heart-to-heart talk with you, as my dear readers – about two thoughts.
One is from the Word and the other is from my life.
So let me start at the beginning, where I want to show you, your value in the eyes of our Lord – You who want to work for our Lord here on earth in honest, true sincerity.
Do you still remember what was the first message ever preached, after our Lord, our God and Savior made His arrival as a man on earth?
Firstly, our Lord make His entrance on earth in a manger, in a stable.
LUKE 2:4-7
4So Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5in order to register with Mary, who was betrothed to him, and was with child. 6While they were there [in Bethlehem], the time came for her to give birth, 7and she gave birth to her Son, her firstborn; and she wrapped Him in [swaddling] cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no [private] room for them in the inn.
God then took on the form of a man and began His journey to Golgotha in a manger, through a stable, as our God and Savior and yes, also our Easter Lamb who will one day, once and for all, become our Easter Lamb and who will be slaughtered for all who will accept Him as Lord and Saviour – and thus will throw the gates of Heaven wide open – for all of us, who will accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior and will follow Him throughout this life.
We read:
JOHN 1:1-5 The Deity Of Jesus Christ
1In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. 2He was [continually existing] in the beginning [co-eternally] with God. 3All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him not even one thing was made that has come into being. 4In Him was life [and the power to bestow life], and the life was the Light of men. 5The Light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness did not understand it or overpower it or appropriate it or absorb it [and is unreceptive to it].
JOHN 1:14 The Word Made Flesh
14And the Word (Christ) became flesh, and lived among us; and we [actually] saw His glory, glory as belongs to the [One and] only begotten Son of the Father, [the Son who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, who is] full of grace and truth (absolutely free of deception).
JOHN 1:12-13
12But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name— 13who were born, not of blood [natural conception], nor of the will of the flesh [physical impulse], nor of the will of man [that of a natural father], but of God [that is, a divine and supernatural birth—they are born of God—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified].
You may think today that you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, but that you are of no use to Him or His Kingdom.
Let me quickly show you what the truth is –
Who preached the first message of Jesus’ Gospel, after Jesus, God who became man, made His entrance into this world?
We read:
LUKE 2:8-15 8In the same region there were shepherds staying out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord flashed and shone around them, and they were terribly frightened. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people. 11For this day in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (the Messiah). 12“And this will be a sign for you [by which you will recognize Him]: you will find a Baby wrapped in [swaddling] cloths and lying in a manger.” 13Then suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host (angelic army) praising God and saying,14“Glory to God in the highest [heaven],
And on earth peace among men with whom He is well-pleased.”
15When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying one to another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem, and see this [wonderful] thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”
What a sight it must have been what the shepherds witnessed there! And our Lord could, if He wanted and if it would have worked, have continued to this day to preach His Gospel through angels in miraculous ways, but it simply would not have worked.
That is why all the gimmicks that so many people use in the church today also do not work, because man, according to his sinful nature, always seek more and bigger and better and even more sensation.
Therefore, gimmicks, no matter how fancy, along with all the other tricks that some so-called preachers come up with from behind pulpits, are not the way to preach the Gospel of Jesus.
The angels came that day and eventually also went – but..
Who did our Lord use to be the first evangelists to begin preaching His wonderful saving Gospel of Love?
We’ve read:
LUKE 2:8 8In the same region there were shepherds staying out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
What did these shepherds, (who were considered the humblest, the least respected people in the social structure of that time), do with the message they received where they guarded their sheep in the open field?
LUKE 2:15-18
15When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying one to another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem, and see this [wonderful] thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16So they went in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the Baby as He lay in the manger. 17And when they had seen this, they made known what had been told them about this Child, 18and all who heard it were astounded and wondered at what the shepherds told them.
As I have come to know our Lord, it is amazing how He works.
If they are not shepherds, then He use fishermen or people like you and me.
What I would like to tell you today is this:
You look at yourself and you say:
“I’m not a good preacher.
I am not a good, not even a bad singer.
“I can’t do this or that, which some people in the congregation manage with such ease.”
Today I want to share with you about what I have experienced in my own life over more than 50 years of working for our Lord – and what I know works for every child of our Lord, if you do it with complete sincerity in your heart and Jesus is truly first in the process in your life.
First, let people see Jesus in and through your life.
Then look at what you have in your hand, in other words, what our Lord has blessed you with.
Then do for our Lord what you find in your hand to do for Him – and you will be able to live out the reason why you are on earth where you are, with our Lord’s divine peace.
We have to say it as it is –
Not all of us who are children of our Lord are blessed with as much as some people are blessed with, but we all have two great glories in common:
We live – and because we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are clothed with Him and He live in us:
GAL 3:27-29 27For all of you who were baptized into Christ [into a spiritual union with the Christ, the Anointed] have clothed yourselves with Christ [that is, you have taken on His characteristics and values]. 28There is [now no distinction in regard to salvation] neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you [who believe] are all one in Christ Jesus [no one can claim a spiritual superiority]. 29And if you belong to Christ [if you are in Him], then you are Abraham’s descendants, and [spiritual] heirs according to [God’s] promise.
GAL 2:20 20I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Bear with me as I share what I just shared with you from a different angle.
So, now you, who are clothed with Christ, and in whom Christ’s Holy Spirit dwells, begin to work for our Lord with what our Lord has put in your hand.
Firstly, through the example of your life.
Francis of Assisi, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, put it so precisely right.
He said, and he said it of course based on what he read in the Word, namely:
2TIM 4:2 2preach the word [as an official messenger]; be ready when the time is right and even when it is not [keep your sense of urgency, whether the opportunity seems favorable or unfavorable, whether convenient or inconvenient, whether welcome or unwelcome]; correct [those who err in doctrine or behavior], warn [those who sin], exhort and encourage [those who are growing toward spiritual maturity], with inexhaustible patience and [faithful] teaching.
Francis of Assisi understood and preached it this way and I understand it this way too and I preach it this way too:
“Preach the Gospel of Christ everywhere you go, whether the time is right or whether the time is not right, and then, when necessary, use words as well.”
Put differently:
“ Walk the walk , that you want to talk, before you talk.”
I conclude with a personal testimony that is still fresh in my heart to show you –
Just make sure that in your heart you preach His Gospel in sincerity in the will of our Lord and – He will take care of the rest.
I am a pensioner but our Lord takes very good care of me, so that I can do what He has given me to do for Him.
I share with you the following short testimony as an example:
My computer, so to say, ‘kick the bucket’ about two weeks ago.
I gave it to someone to fix it for me.
In the evening, I was sitting in my apartment, without my computer, and it’s not very nice, because I can’t live out my ministry.
The next moment I received an SMS from my bank that someone (and I wish I knew who it was) has deposited a donation of R500 for me.
The next day, the man who always fixes my computer calls and tells me that my hard drive has failed and when I ask how much it will cost me, he says R500.
Now I have my computer but there is still something that is not working properly and that is also going to cost me money. Then on Friday someone gave me an envelope as a gift, and I know now I have enough money for that too.
How wonderfully full of peace in my heart I remember the content of the message that the angels brought more than 2000 years ago:
LUKE 2:14 14“Glory to God in the highest [heaven],
And on earth peace among men with whom He is well-pleased.”
Then, some thirty years later – after the angels had proclaimed this message – our Lord, our Redeemer and Savior Himself, repeat in His own words what the angels said:
JOHN 14:27 27Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]
Now I look at the things that happen to, and around me, and I remember with great peace in my heart – and I also live it out to the best of my ability in and through my life:
JOHN 16:33 33“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]
Now you and I live and work with what we have spiritually in our hands, while we remember with great excitement our Lord’s words to us:
JOHN 14:1-3 Jesus Comforts His Disciples
1“Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me. 2In My Father’s house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and I will take you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.
Greetings,
Sakkie
Email: bediening@sakkieparsons.co.za
Website: www.sakkieparsons.co.za
Cell: 083 457 6669
Jude 1:24-25 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy, to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
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