"I am the true vine, and my father is the vine grower. Every branch that is in me and that bears no fruit, he takes away ; and every branch that bears fruit, he prunes it to bear more fruit" (John 15: 1-2).
To proclaim the Gospel is a privilege. Oh, if we could grasp all the grace! If we could understand the unparalleled privilege of bringing the Word of God around us, a privilege that some enjoy at the cost of their lives, "they did not love their lives to the point of fearing death" (Revelation 12:11) . I think we can grab it. I believe that God can illuminate the eyes of our heart in order to realize the grace that is ours to be his disciples and to bear fruit for him.
You will do a lot of trouble to stay the same person. And in fact, you do not want it. You know deep inside you that you need to change, and you even know the things that keep you from going further. We can not win the world if we love the things of this world. We can not speak of Jesus to unbelievers if we covet their life, their position, or their property. "On the contrary, since he who has called you is holy, you too must be holy in all your conduct" (1 Peter 1:15). Our holiness will convince the world that something is wrong with their lives. Some will feel so bad that they will try to flee us, but even if they try to flee us, their conscience will speak to them about us and about our God. They will face their sins and their need for a Savior. It will be the work of God. It will be the work of the Holy Spirit in their life. Oh, I want to attain a measure of glorious holiness, which brings sinners to shout to God in my mere presence, not because of me, but because of the power of the holiness of God that emanates from my glorious spirit. Hallelujah ! I feel through the Holy Spirit that God wants to bring you into a dimension of glory and honor that you have never experienced. Do you want it ?
Jeremy Sourdril