Have you ever wondered what God thinks about what we do for Him? How does it make Him feel when we truly follow His plan for us?
Well, when I was worshiping the Lord today, He showed me this story, or vision. It just unrolled before me.
There was this ordinary, Christian man. This man was busy living life day by day, a life of normalcy one could say. Then, one day, a stranger came up to the man, and asked him if he could show him something that would change his (the christian man’s) life. Well at first the man resisted the stranger…but as the stranger kept insisting, he finally gave in and followed the stranger. The Stranger brought him to an art gallery. The building was huge…but the walls were pretty much bare, a few pictures scattered in places, but otherwise empty. After walking around the disappointing gallery for a while, the man finally had to ask, “Why are we here?”…..the stranger looked around at the empty building for a few moments, then responded, “can’t you see?…. this is the gallery of the life you’ve lived for Christ”……
You see, this man had lived a few moments of his life for Christ, but not near enough to make any sort of significance in this gallery….but this is the gallery in which the Lord longs to see filled. Each moment we truly live for Him he posts in this gallery. He cherishes every piece of work He hangs in there, just as a parent charishes the art work of their little children. To begin to fill this gallery up, we need to daily live our life for Him. We need to learn to push our desires aside, and chase after His desires for us. Dying to our flesh, and living in the Lord is key in this proccess. We also should have Him check our motives constantly: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” -Psalm 139:23-24. As when we begin to live life this way, we will begin to notice that the building, or gallery, of our life lived for Christ cannot contain the amount of things the Lord has to put on display from us.
So let us not leave our galleries empty. But let us begin to live life as to fill them up. Lets begin to truly live our lives for Jesus.
Born in 1989, Colton (the author of LivngForJesus) is child of God, husband, soon-to-be father (baby on the way), the Outreach & Youth Director at Gateway Christian Church and a graphic/web designer. He has had a passion for ministry since his mid-teens....
Thank you so much Donna, it is really encouraging to hear that. It is so wonderful that God is still using something that he showed me (basically what I shared in this post) over a year ago to help and encourage others.
This is true. We all really need to take a good look at how we are living sometimes. It’s either for the world or it’s for God and it can’t be for both. No man can serve two masters. May God bless you for posting this and for letting him work through you and in you.
Colton- This is an amazing word. EXACTLY what I needed to read today. PRAISE GOD that you are filling the gallery with your words. You are so faithful to His love.
Thank you so much for your feedback Lars 🙂 It is such a blessing to hear from people who have benefited from this ministry! God bless you and thanks again!
I am so thankful! This message has made me see how I really am living, and how I every day have to die to sin and live for Jesus. My heart cries, Lord!
God bless you and your great work here on the website!
Psalm 23,5-6
Thank you so much barry for sharing that with me! 🙂 it always is great to know when some one appreciates what you have done :). But to be honest Barry, I cannot take full credit. God really revealed this story to me as if it were already written. All I did was right it down.
God Bless You Barry!
-Colton
You certainly know how to tell a story! 🙂 Good thoughts presented well bring meaning to people’s lives. You have done this for me. I will share the Psalms reading with my kids during our study and reference this.
His Peace to you and yours
thank you so much Kara for sharing that with me! It’s such a blessing to see God use something you’ve done to help someone else. God truly is amazing
May God bless you, and may you bless him
-Colton
Wow, this is amazing and brought tears to my eyes! I’m putting together my message that I will be preaching for this week’s service at our church and this is exactly the finishing touches to my msg!! It wraps up all my thoughts on living for the Lord and making it a lifestyle and daily choice not just a fleeting thought. Thank you for sharing!!
Thank you for sharing that with me Kirstie. It is great knowing when you’ve helped someone in any way.
May God bless you, and may you bless Him.
-Colton
This inspired and reminded me of whom I am truly living for whatever I face in my life checking if I do it for the King and Source of my life-Jesus. I remembered that I am living a life of thanks and worship for His love for me. Thanks..& God bless you more.
It’s my pleasure James
Thank you for sharing…May God Bless…
Thank you so much Melinda! Hearing that is a great blessing to me. 🙂
God Bless, you, that was great inspiring words.