------ Continued from Pt.1 -------
Isaiah tells us that "Those that wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." We all see this verse constantly, almost everywhere we go. And I hear myself say exactly what you say all the time... "Yes! I need to wait on the Lord, hear what He has to say to me and I will have a renewed strength to carry on." This is so very true! But nothing will truly happen if I do not first take care of the first half phrase in that verse. WAIT ON THE LORD!!! "Oh I get it... Wait on the Lord... 1sec... 2sec... 3sec... Done! Well, He didn't say anything in particular to me there, so He must be pleased with what I'm doing. I'll just keep up the good work." And off I go! Does anything seem a bit off to you? Did I really spend time with my God? Or did I call it waiting because it was a few seconds longer than it took to heat my dinner in the microwave? The word "wait" is actually a verb (action). When I wait on the Lord, I am to constantly be on my face (maybe not literally all the time, because that would be awkward) before my God seeking His guidance and direction. The words I say, thoughts that cross my mind and things I do should be directed by my Savior and God.
To get back to my main question, (What's the point?) I want to address our biggest fear... The Future! Why are we so scared of what's to come? It's because we can't truly control it. Each one of us feel the need, and have the desire to always "be in control"! We do so much to do our best to direct and control what will happen or what we will be in 2, 5 or 10 years down the road. We're scared of the unknown! When we know what's coming or exactly what to expect, we seem to be more at ease. But the question remains... To what extent am I willing to trust God? If I'm not willing to trust God completely with my future, then in what other areas will I compromise in down the road? And when I say "completely" I mean completely! No shadow or corner hidden. Not a single item withheld from the all powerful hand of my God.
When my life seems to change without much warning; when I can't see what's coming even right around the corner; when something seems to go strangely different than the way I expected it, will I reach out and take back that which I have released to my God? When it is just so easy to return to self-reliance, will I leap at the opportunity? Or will I continue to seek Christ's guidance and not my own desires? When everything is so very easy to bring back into my own control, what's the point in letting my Lord keep it all under HIS control. Why not take it back?
For thousands of years God has held this complete and whole world in the palm of his hand. Not a sparrow has fallen nor a flower wilted that He has not been aware of and cared about. This world has not fallen to pieces or been destroyed by any force. All of this is because of how Christ cares for his creation. Why wouldn't He be the best one to put all my trust in(Not ME!)? Wouldn't He be the best asset to invest in(Not Me!)? Wouldn't He be the most amazing leader to follow(Not Me!)? When I don't know specifics or have a timeline of "the future", don't tell me I'm being irresponsible. When I say that I am seeking Gods direction in what to do next, don't say to me "you have to be doing something!". Because I am actively following my Savior. Sometimes God asks us to be silent and be still. When was the last time you were truly silent or still? I am looking to my Lord for His blessing FIRST, THEN I move in the direction He leads. I will not move in one direction, and then seek His blessing. His leading is what matters in Eternity and not my preference!
The point is giving unto God what is His. Doing his bidding, not my own. And being His ambassador! Are you a picture of Christ to those who don't know Him? True, the world does not understand "why" we do the things we do when we follow Christ without reserve. But they get to watch and see the "how" as well as the result. I look forward to being a showpiece of God's for all to see. Do you? When I show confidence and joy in diverse situations, others will be confused. But why fear their confusion? Why not show God's power in your life!? When "I laugh in the face of danger", they will know who my God is! I as a Christian(Christ-follower) of all people should be the happiest! Not full of depression and sadness! Because I have the most to be grateful for. I have the opportunity at an abundant life! Christ is handing it to me on a "silver platter". I'm gonna take it and run with it! Will you run by my side?
That's the point! Each and every one of us is to be a shining light in a dark and dismayed world. The salt of the earth(we're the flavor that makes this world amazing). I am a "picture" of Christ to all, not a mud pie. I am the happiest and most joyful of all; because of what has been done for me and who I represent! My purpose is to HONOR my God. My means, the POWER of God. My end, the GLORY of God. What is yours? Who are you?
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Saturday, February 23, 2013
What's the Point?
Have
you ever wondered what's the point in waiting for something, when it
would be so easy to spend a little more of your resources or energy
just to get it "right now"? I mean, why not? I get to have
it sooner. Thus experience the happiness that comes from it in a much
more "timely fashion". It makes perfect sense does it not?
Or does it not...? In this world, we have, through the ingenuity of
many visionaries and "go getters", the chance to speed
things up a bit. Bicycles helped us speed up our time from walking,
cars got us to our destinations quicker, airplanes get us across
distances much faster than other modes of transportation.
And transportation is just one example of how we have been able to get things faster. In alot of our world, we have continued to try and squeeze as many things into "time" as possible! When we have an hour, what is the most we can cram into that limited bit of time? Nowadays, we are almost controlled by time, we have deadlines, schedules, appointments, jobs and time-frames in which we must complete things. Time is not on our side! And I believe most of us are beginning to realize that. We need things faster, smarter, bigger, better and more detailed for us. While time is against us, we have made technology that works for us. Oh what a blessing! Even the Bible tells us in Ephesians it says "Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil." In another version it says "redeeming the time, for the days are evil." I believe in so many ways we have all taken it to heart. In our terms we would say "change for the better". Wouldn't you say we try to change everything for the better as we move through this life? Especially considering ourselves? I am so grateful for the chance to do so as I walk this world!
So what's the point? Why wait on something that you feel you could get so much faster doing it or going another way? Why in the world, if we live in such a schedule oriented culture/world, should we take the "slow road". Or the slightly more difficult route? For some of us, we look at the challenge and shirk back. However for others, we see a challenge to be conquered. Just like a mountain to climb, river to rule or video game to master. Whomever you are, you may have great reasoning for your response in this type of situation. Yet I submit to you that there is something missing in all of this.
When was the last time you truly took the Word of God at face value? How often do you or I claim to believe that scripture is inerrant and "profitable for doctrine, reproof, for correction and instruction in righteousness"? I would wager, most all of us would square up our shoulders hold our chin up and say "For sure I do"! Then why does it seem that much of what the bible says... GOES RIGHT OVER OUR HEADS? The very next verse in Ephesians says "So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." If this is a command, what have we done to make every effort to do exactly that? To understand what the will of the Lord is, we actually need to listen. But if we are constantly running around, typing this, working on that, finishing this project or starting that one... how can we hear? And then on top of that we decide that having a set of ear-buds shoved in our ears will make our day go better or our attitude be nicer. Wait one minute... How can I hear the voice of my God and Father who loves me very dearly if I have chosen to drown him out with all this stuff. Why do you think all this stuff is so easily accessible? Don't you think it's one more way for our arch-enemy the devil to render us unfit as a soldier and ambassador for Christ's kingdom? "But", you say, "I listen to christian music and even my co-workers know it. So I'm witnessing to them in that way!" Well good for you! But how often do you truly listen to your God? Or do you just talk at Him?
------- To be Continued -------
And transportation is just one example of how we have been able to get things faster. In alot of our world, we have continued to try and squeeze as many things into "time" as possible! When we have an hour, what is the most we can cram into that limited bit of time? Nowadays, we are almost controlled by time, we have deadlines, schedules, appointments, jobs and time-frames in which we must complete things. Time is not on our side! And I believe most of us are beginning to realize that. We need things faster, smarter, bigger, better and more detailed for us. While time is against us, we have made technology that works for us. Oh what a blessing! Even the Bible tells us in Ephesians it says "Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil." In another version it says "redeeming the time, for the days are evil." I believe in so many ways we have all taken it to heart. In our terms we would say "change for the better". Wouldn't you say we try to change everything for the better as we move through this life? Especially considering ourselves? I am so grateful for the chance to do so as I walk this world!
So what's the point? Why wait on something that you feel you could get so much faster doing it or going another way? Why in the world, if we live in such a schedule oriented culture/world, should we take the "slow road". Or the slightly more difficult route? For some of us, we look at the challenge and shirk back. However for others, we see a challenge to be conquered. Just like a mountain to climb, river to rule or video game to master. Whomever you are, you may have great reasoning for your response in this type of situation. Yet I submit to you that there is something missing in all of this.
When was the last time you truly took the Word of God at face value? How often do you or I claim to believe that scripture is inerrant and "profitable for doctrine, reproof, for correction and instruction in righteousness"? I would wager, most all of us would square up our shoulders hold our chin up and say "For sure I do"! Then why does it seem that much of what the bible says... GOES RIGHT OVER OUR HEADS? The very next verse in Ephesians says "So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." If this is a command, what have we done to make every effort to do exactly that? To understand what the will of the Lord is, we actually need to listen. But if we are constantly running around, typing this, working on that, finishing this project or starting that one... how can we hear? And then on top of that we decide that having a set of ear-buds shoved in our ears will make our day go better or our attitude be nicer. Wait one minute... How can I hear the voice of my God and Father who loves me very dearly if I have chosen to drown him out with all this stuff. Why do you think all this stuff is so easily accessible? Don't you think it's one more way for our arch-enemy the devil to render us unfit as a soldier and ambassador for Christ's kingdom? "But", you say, "I listen to christian music and even my co-workers know it. So I'm witnessing to them in that way!" Well good for you! But how often do you truly listen to your God? Or do you just talk at Him?
------- To be Continued -------
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