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Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. Lk8:19 Pressure and ministry are related. They go hand in hand. The greater the life of the ministry, the greater is the press. Jesus had pressure. He also had power. The secret to his ministry was his ability to convert pressure into power. The press calls us to deeper and deeper conversion. The press calls us to utilize more and more of our time, treasure, and talent for the kingdom of God. St Paul in Philippians says he presses on. We need to press on to know the power of his resurrection, the fellowship of his suffering, that we may be conformed to his image (Ph3:10). If we do not faint, we will overcome. The way we do not faint is that by faith we cast our care on him because he cares for us. It is by faith that we confess our strength, our hope, our love for God. It is by faith that we appropriate all the blessings of God and rejoice in tribulation because tribulation brings patience and patience hope, and hope does not make us ashamed because the love of God is poured into our hearts (Rm5:1-4) We as Christians must not balk at pressure but rejoice in it and convert it into spiritual energy. We do that by knowing that the greater one resides inside of us and that all things work together for the good to those who love God and are called according to his purposes. The press was part of the ministry of Christ. The press enabled him to stay in the presence of the Father, to pray, to fast, to yield, to die, to convert and be transformed. With ministry comes pressure. With pressure comes growth and spiritual maturity, with maturity comes power. Be people of faith and people who do not shirk the press but grow from it. Unless a corn of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone. But if it dies it bears much fruit. (Jn12:24) St. Paul stated the he died daily. The press calls us to death. It calls us to the cross. The cross calls us to resurrection. No cross and then there is no resurrection. Out of death we rise with Christ. Our life is a cycle of suffering, death, and resurrection. But with each cycle we are transformed ever more into the image of Christ as we present our bodies as living sacrifices to him. Love not the world. Be lovers of God. Loves suffers long and is kind. Be lovers of God and endure all things, bear all things, and hope all things. Love never fails. (1Cor13) Life has pressure. Our faith is the converter. Our love is the motivation. The kingdom of God is our goal. There are great rewards for those who suffer for the kingdom of God. They will reign with him as kings. (Rm5:17) The blood bought our inheritance of eternal life. Suffering for the kingdom brings the millennium reign with Christ. By converting pressure into power you become useful in GodÕs service. Fight the good fight of faith and lay hold of eternal life. Amen |