A Chosen Servant of Christ

Note: Here at "Just the Boldfaced Print," I am careful to record as purely as I'm able only the Holy Spirit directed guidance the Lord provides to me. I seek not to muddy the waters with my own thoughts and feelings; but to be a vessel for His words. In this way, because of the Holy Spirit's unique and powerful ability to speak to many hearts at once with living and active words that become custom tailored to each need, most entries recorded here are for every believer. The following entry, however, is addressed to those who have made it their life's work to accept God's anointing as writers. A Christian scribe is one who opens his or her heart to the Holy Spirit's guidance, and labors to put the Lord's thoughts into words for the edification of this generation. This entry is addressed to the Lord's scribes, but with very little editing can also apply to every member of Christ's body by replacing the word "scribe" with whatever unique anointing God has given you. "All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines" (1 Corinthians 12:11).

For every age scribes are chosen who will reveal the portion of God's word most needed for the people of that generation. You are a chosen scribe. Do not either overestimate or underestimate your own value to those who will receive your words; the Lord's words through you.

Always remember that you are of inestimable worth to God, apart from any work you may perform on His behalf.

Scripture: "And he said to them, 'Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.'" (Matthew 13:52, ESV).

"Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you" (Romans 12:3).

All Have Sinned

Don't be a whitewashed wall. The wall was crumbling away, but the builders painted over its flaws to make it appear better than it was (Ezekiel 13:10-16). You may possess greater skill at hiding your sin than the ones who have cost you pain, but the sin itself is no different than theirs.

You are upset and have difficulty admitting that the same sin that hurt you so badly in others is present in you. You feel devastated, as though to admit you are guilty of this same brand of sin dis-acknowledges the fact that you suffered at their hands. Think of it this way: if a child runs into the path of a car because he did not look both ways, and if the resulting accident is the child's fault, does a loving father withhold aid? NO!

Grace does not depend upon the one who is in need, but upon the One who grants the gift. Mercy does not depend on the one who cries out for help, but upon the One who is the source of all mercy and grace. God sees the state of the heart. You are under grace; you have received mercy, He is with you.

In Christ Alone

There can be no salvation without a savior. That seems obvious, and yet in popular culture there is found a motif wherein a Holy and powerful God (force, power) is presented as being all wise and kind, and yet paltry human beings in these imaginary worlds are able to interact with Him with no intermediary. In reality, the Lord our God is so immutably and terrifyingly holy that human beings cannot stand in His presence apart from Christ. Any plan of salvation that does not include Jesus is a lie, meant to lull people into a false sense of security through a fairy tale of weakly divine goodness that can be manipulated by mere human beings. We are less than nothing as compared to the magnificence and glory of the most Holy God, and why He has chosen to love us is a divine mystery, made known to us in Christ. In Christ alone lies our hope for eternal peace and life; only through Christ may we participate in the divine nature.

Scripture: "And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ" (Ephesians 1:9-10).

Don't Hide From God

In this stressful season, you cannot spare time to indulge the luxury of avoidance. When you feel tired, rest; when you feel the urge for escapism, resist. This is not too difficult for you. Turn to the Lord each time you feel that restless sense of being overwhelmed or overtired.

It is natural to pull one’s hand back from a thorn prick. God does not chastise you for recoiling from the discomfort of stress, but He does want you to handle it differently. Do not hide from it. Take a step back, yes, but let that step bring you into His arms. Don’t hide.

Your tendency is to sit down between the stress and God's solace and cover your head. Flee to the Lord if you must flee, or stand firm and trust His deliverance; but when you run from the stress take care that you do not also hide your face from the Lord your God.

Scripture: "...they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, 'Where are you?'" (Genesis 3:8-9)

"If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers..." (John 15:6).