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Monday, June 16, 2003

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2 Corinthians 6:1-10
Psalm 98
Matthew 5:38-42

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the only life worth living

"In all that we do we strive to present ourselves as ministers of God." —2 Corinthians 6:4

I hope you have made the decision of a lifetime and have decided to live for Jesus and work for Him full-time. If you are a housewife, plumber, garbageman, teacher, elected official, etc., and are serving Jesus full-time, your life is truly worthwhile, challenging, and indescribably joyous. You live "with patient endurance amid trials, difficulties, distresses, beatings, imprisonments, and riots; as men familiar with hard work, sleepless nights, and fastings" (2 Cor 6:4-5). By the power of the Holy Spirit, you have "innocence, knowledge, and patience" (2 Cor 6:6), with "weapons of righteousness with right hand and left" (2 Cor 6:7), you are even privileged to be a threat to the devil.

In Jesus, you are living such a radically new life that your life transcends typical categories. You are dying to self and thereby fully alive (see 2 Cor 6:9). You rejoice always (Phil 4:4) simultaneously with suffering frequent sorrows (see 2 Cor 6:10). By the world's standards, you have nothing while in fact you possess everything (2 Cor 6:10), as Christ is your Treasure.

How glorious is our life in Jesus! One day in His service is better than a thousand elsewhere (see Ps 84:11). In joyful thanksgiving, serve and worship Jesus forever!

Prayer:  Father, put a smile on my face and a joy in my heart forever.

Promise:  "You have heard the commandment, 'An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.' But what I say to you is: offer no resistance to injury. When a person strikes you on the right cheek, turn and offer him the other." —Mt 5:38-39

Praise:  Not until Janet lost her job did she realize what the Lord had planned for her life.

Reference:  (For a related teaching, order our tape A Prophetic Life Style on audio AV 75-3 or video V-75.)

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, December 29, 2002


Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 31, 2002