Matthew 16:18 “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
At this moment there are so many thoughts running through my mind, so many things that I want to say yet, I just can’t seem to think of words that would begin to adequately convey my feelings. Sometimes it seems as if the storms of this life are so overwhelming. Sometimes it seems as if I try and try and try to say and do that which is right and only become disappointed. There are times when the burdens and trials of this life weigh so heavy that the road becomes so difficult. As I think of all these things, I fear that I, like perhaps many of you, simply take for granted the great blessings of God (2 Pet. 1:3-4).
Find a song book, turn to the song, “When Upon Life’s Billows”. This song just says it so well. Read, no study, each verse, drinking in the sentiments of each verse then take a long, hard look at the chorus: “Count Your Many Blessings, See What God Hath Done”. I have a tremendous family, a beautiful wife who has stood by me for over 54 years, four wonderful children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. I have had the opportunity to preach the gospel for many years, and to serve as an elder in the Lord’s church. God has been good to me and as the song says, “blessed me with wealth untold “. As you count your blessings, I am sure you will come to the same conclusion concerning yourself.
But the greatest blessing of all is the privilege of being a part of the Lord’s church. I love 1 John 3:1, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God…….”. For us to have that privilege our Lord had to endure some tremendous trials on this earth. He had to suffer ridicule and shame at the hands of those who crucified him. He had to walk that lonely road to Calvary and have nails driven into his flesh and be hung on a cross. He had to give his life’s blood so that it would be possible for us to be called sons of God (Colossians 1:12-14).
It is an honor to be a disciple of Jesus Christ and be in the church which he built. Today, I am convinced that because of what he did, when we are truly impressed with the love that makes that possible, we will be wholly committed to him. We need to be a faithful people committed to studying his word (2 Tim. 2:15, 1 Pet. 2:2), to prayer (Phil. 4:6-7, 1 Thess. 5:17), to setting our affection on things above (Col. 3:1, Matt. 6:19-21), to letting our light shine before men (Matt. 5:16, 1 Cor. 15:58), to loving each other (1 Pet. 1:22, 1 John, chps. 3 and 4). Our commitment must not be half-hearted (Rev. 3:14-19). It must not be a commitment to our own little hobby or feeling (1 Cor. 1:10). It is a commitment that must not just be a verbal one (James 1:22, Matt. 23:2-3). Our commitment to the Lord and his church must be total, not nominal or halfway (2 Cor. 8:1-5, Mark 12:29-30, Matt. 6:33).
Charles Hicks