Toe The Line

Sis, the struggle is real, I know, but don't give up. Toe the line. This year alone you have taken great lost in one fashion or another. Sickness and disease has plagued your love ones. Confusion and despair crept into your home and on your job. You have to either be blind or paralyzed in sin to not see the madness thats taking place in our country and the discord among the brethren thats on the rise in our community. I write to encourage you, to toe the line. The weighing in on your heart is not just by chance. The stress and depression that is trying its earnest to captivate your spirit, is not a coincidence. Yes, we're really living in that time where we have to fight all out to keep free, sane, and stable. Take no thought, not even for a second, that you're enduring by yourself, for we are all toeing the line beside you. "I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!" (Psalm 27:13-14)

Paul, one that proclaimed that he was least of the saints to be used by God, because he persecuted Christians, is one of my favorites in The Bible. He inspires me to have this "shake it off, keep it going" syndrome. No matter what trouble I face, no matter the attack from the enemy, "shake it off, keep it going." Meditating on the life of Paul, it's hard not to question whether this man was human or not. Paul endured so much, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:14) yet he never lost hope or faith. It's as if he welcomed shortcomings into his life, to bring God name the Glory. He was tunneled visioned.

Paul always always kept his purpose, Jesus, in the forefront of his life. Paul lived a surrendered life from the very beginning of his salvation. He took delight in being a living vessel of God. If anyone knew how it felt to be persecuted, delayed for the Glory of God, it would be Paul. See Paul knew how to shake things off and keep it going. No matter what attack came his way, and a LOT came his way, he knew it was only momentarily. He knew that whatever trial he was in the midst of, it only were to be endured for "a little while" One thing that I inspire to be more like Paul in is his "until death" mentality. His heart was set on living for Jesus until death. At all cost he proclaimed "To live is Christ, to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21)

Paul was beaten and thrown into jail, but instead of complaining he took the time he was in bondage to worship. In return, salvation came forth to the Roman Soldier that guarded his prison cell AND his family. See, he shook off the the fact that heavy chains bounded him and kept it moving with worship and prayer, Heaven intervened and what do you know, a whole family accepted Jesus into their heart as Lord. Paul was also shipwrecked. Being given favor and grace to travel to Rome for an opportunity to witness to Caesar, the ship that he was on was tossed and battered by a great storm at sea. Instead of losing hope, Paul encouraged others and swam to shore, to safety. He kept it moving. Now as if being shipwrecked wasn't enough, cold and uncomfortable, while building a fire to keep warm, a poisonous snake bite Paul on the hand. This man couldn't catch a break! Yet even in the midst of being shipwrecked, misplaced on an unfamiliar Island, bitten by a poisonous snake, he sought to shake it off, keep it going. Instead of panicking, he literally shook off his circumstances and kept it going by going to Publius (the leader of the Island, Melita), father house where he lay sick in bed, prayed for him, laid hands and healed him. He went about the Island ministering and leading many to salvation. No doubt that he eventually got to Rome, which was always his goal, but He allowed God to detour him along the way to use him for His Glory.

My Point ....

"For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes." (Proverbs 24:16) The righteous WILL stumble and fall, but according to this verse, we get back up again and again. There will be curve balls thrown at you in this lifetime. There will be times where you'd just rather be absent from the body and present with the Lord already. Full grown lemon trees that will make your face turn sour, but at all cost, Toe The Line. Whatever assignment God has given you to complete in this season, I beg you to do it with all heart. There is much much need of you in Gods Kingdom, especially now, where suicide, depression, death, racism, and lust is at an all time high. Keep your shield of Faith steady and your sword razor sharp. Toe The Line.

Jesus Is Just That Good,

Pamelia Walker