Secret Agents
Wanna be a secret agent?
Not an agent for C.S.I.S. or the C.I.A., or the F.B.I., not an agent for M16, I.M.F. or S.H.I.E.L.D. Not even a secret agent for C.O.N.T.R.O.L. or U.N.C.L.E. But you can be a secret agent all the same, an agent for good, an agent for change – change in this world, and change that reaches to eternity!
In fact, every believer is called to be such an agent.., a secret agent… serving the King, the Creator, our Lord. Jesus gives three specific missions to each Christian… to you… should you decide to accept them:
GIVE
We are commanded to give: “Give to everyone who asks you,” He says (Luke 6:30). “Freely you have received; freely give.” (Matt. 10:8). But this is not to be done flamboyantly, but, as it were, under cover. In secret. Lest you and not He receive glory! “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret.” (Matt. 6:3-4). There will be a reward, but you must think nothing of it. If you make reward your goal, you fall from your agency.
PRAY
“Men ought always to pray,” taught the Saviour (Luke 18:1). “Pray without ceasing,” wrote the Apostle (1 Thess. 5:17). Yet again such praying must not be as a hypocrite — not in display before others, however subtly hidden. A mask is not acting secretly. Rather, “…when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen…” (Matt. 6:6). And yes, a reward is promised, but the true agent expects nothing. The privilege of service is sufficient.
FAST
To deny oneself for the greater good, that is what makes the legendary agent. The self-sacrificing agent. The one willing “to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). And to do so though no one may notice. “Put oil on your head and wash your face” (Matt. 6:17). A good agent will cover his tracks lest pride catch up with him.
“Significant works of God do not begin with public praise,” said our guest speaker, Neville Gosman. No, they begin in secret. Where no one is watching…. No one but God.
Become a Secret Agent today! (This world will self-destruct in – ? –)
More tomorrow…
To hear this past Sunday’s message, go to the Facebook page of Lincoln Baptist Church, or link to the livestream from the church website.
thebrokenrunner 