"You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn't that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren't you living like people of the world? When one of you says, "I am a follower of Paul," and another says, "I follow Apollos," aren't you acting just like people of the world? After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul?...I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It's not important who does the planting, or who does the watering." (1 Cor. 3:3-7)
This verse really struck me today because as a younger Christian, I attended a locally famous church and I remember that some people who attended used to liken the pastor to Billy Graham and his gift for evangelism.
But as I've grown older in Christ and in wisdom, I realize that my Pastor that seemed so famous, pious and good is only a man. In reality, he's not really that famous, although he is, as far as I can discern, pious and good (for which I am glad).
But even when it comes down to someone like Billy Graham, a man I completely admire and respect, who is Billy? He is a man who is faithful to the call of Christ to water or plant the seed of faith in many worldwide. Yet, can even Billy Graham take credit for anything? As Paul says, "No, it was God who made it grow."
Being a former missionary, it is easy to compare accomplishments and to get into a numbers mindset. We are not rating even ourselves in the church based on Paul's metric in this verse, but instead we are trying to measure success using boardroom metrics for success. How big is our facility?, how many were "saved" this weekend?, How wide is our television net?
I am no longer a formal missionary -- I was called into business, and God has blessed my career. What this verse really speaks to me is that I really need to run my own personal race and follow my own calling. God has me in business for a purpose -- I really don't know all the ramifications of why He has placed me where I am, and it doesn't seem like I'm making a huge difference in His kingdom. However, I simply try to live and conduct myself in the Lord's ways as much as I can.
I'm not a gregarious Christian who is trying to convince everyone around me to join my church...however, I try my best to identify myself as a Christian and to lend Christian viewpoints to daily conversation. If I encounter moral challenges in my job, I try to example the Lord's ways and even attempt to convince those I report to as well as those I manage to make moral choices in our workplace decisions.
I know that I may never really truly convince someone I come across to make a choice for Christ. But, does the numbers of those who pray the sinners prayer define who I am? No -- nothing besides the truth that I am a new creation in Christ can define me from the day I accepted Him as my Lord and Savior. Nothing and no one.
God places each man into a certain role in life -- and few of them, even those that seem so famous to a young Christian, truly are glamorous. The job of "watering can in the business world" is actually very mundane and hidden. But -- if I simply remain faithful to the job I've been given by the Lord, I know that I will be pleasing to Him.
Showing posts with label peace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label peace. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Monday, February 27, 2012
Our Control Is Only An Illusion
"The earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell." (Ps 24:1)
"Both riches and honor come from You,
And You reign over all.
In Your hand is power and might;
In Your hand it is to make great
And to give strength to all." (1 Chron. 29:12)
"For exaltation comes neither from the east
Nor from the west nor from the south.
7 But God is the Judge:
He puts down one,
And exalts another." (Psalm 75:6-7)
We Human Beings are funny creatures - we are so interested in the future. We pay psychics over the phone, read horoscopes and other claptrap to see if we are going to have a good day. It isn't a new thing either (what is, really different between us and biblical human beings? - nothing), King Saul committed a grave sin by using a medium to contact a dead Samuel rather than trusting in the Lord.
This morning this topic resonated with me because I was having some nightmares about my children. It always centers around them wandering and falling into a danger that I cannot control.
As a parent, I am constantly worried on some level about my children. It usually doesn't rear itself in my daily life, but in dreams it can be quite frightening for me. It is my worst fears realized in nightmare form.
My fears in daily life (when I'm awake) usually center around provision and the desire to provide for the needs of my family and the hope that should something happen to me, they will be well cared for. At the same time, I hope that my career will grow and mature. When I was a younger single Christian, my primary desire was to find a good woman who was willing to spend the rest of her life with me (a seemingly insurmountable task at the time - praise God that He can work miracles!).
All these things are connected because they are all out of my control. I surely want to control them - to make sure my family is safe and secure and that my career is blossoming, but I cannot.
That is where the need to trust in and pray to the Lord comes into play. Trust is evidenced and developed over time - much like how a new marriage is fragile because it is so young, so too is our walk with the Lord when we are new Christians. Over time, the Lord's faithfulness is evidenced - not in the way that we envision, want or desire, but instead in the way that He desires for us, knowing the beginning and the end of our lives.
Consequently, our lives never ever develop in the way that we believe it will go. Yet, looking back on the time that I have been a Christian -- would I change anything? Would I trade my life for another? How can I? I am living the life that the Lord has granted to me, and it is well with my soul.
The Lord doesn't promise us perfection in life - living in a fallen world, tragedies happen all the time. Thorns and jagged edges abound everywhere and we can be cut physically, mentally and emotionally.
However, as a child of God - one whose Lordship is no longer our own, but given over to Christ, God promises eternal life and also to use our lives in a way that is beneficial to his kingdom - a life that is fulfilling because it fills our purpose for living.
At this point, earthly control - earthly results are no longer important. There is an eternity for us to look forward to. As Paul says boldly in Philippians 1:21, to live is Christ, to die is gain. There is no need for control over our futures, instead we merely need to focus on self-control and discipline in living God's ways (one of the fruits of the spirit in Gal. 5:22). Living in submission with Him, He will guide our steps and use us in the way that will maximize our lives, and the lives of our families.
Lord Jesus, in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, the dangers of this life can seem so large and imposing. I forget Your perspective and Your will all too easily. You are in control and You are my Lord. Let my life flow in whatever way and direction You desire. Let me never try to possess my life as if it is something for me to grasp or to lay pride upon. I am yours, and my family is yours. Help me instead to be the best that I can be for them and ultimately for You. In the amazing name of Jesus - the name of salvation, I pray. AMEN.
"Both riches and honor come from You,
And You reign over all.
In Your hand is power and might;
In Your hand it is to make great
And to give strength to all." (1 Chron. 29:12)
"For exaltation comes neither from the east
Nor from the west nor from the south.
7 But God is the Judge:
He puts down one,
And exalts another." (Psalm 75:6-7)
We Human Beings are funny creatures - we are so interested in the future. We pay psychics over the phone, read horoscopes and other claptrap to see if we are going to have a good day. It isn't a new thing either (what is, really different between us and biblical human beings? - nothing), King Saul committed a grave sin by using a medium to contact a dead Samuel rather than trusting in the Lord.
This morning this topic resonated with me because I was having some nightmares about my children. It always centers around them wandering and falling into a danger that I cannot control.
As a parent, I am constantly worried on some level about my children. It usually doesn't rear itself in my daily life, but in dreams it can be quite frightening for me. It is my worst fears realized in nightmare form.
My fears in daily life (when I'm awake) usually center around provision and the desire to provide for the needs of my family and the hope that should something happen to me, they will be well cared for. At the same time, I hope that my career will grow and mature. When I was a younger single Christian, my primary desire was to find a good woman who was willing to spend the rest of her life with me (a seemingly insurmountable task at the time - praise God that He can work miracles!).
All these things are connected because they are all out of my control. I surely want to control them - to make sure my family is safe and secure and that my career is blossoming, but I cannot.
That is where the need to trust in and pray to the Lord comes into play. Trust is evidenced and developed over time - much like how a new marriage is fragile because it is so young, so too is our walk with the Lord when we are new Christians. Over time, the Lord's faithfulness is evidenced - not in the way that we envision, want or desire, but instead in the way that He desires for us, knowing the beginning and the end of our lives.
Consequently, our lives never ever develop in the way that we believe it will go. Yet, looking back on the time that I have been a Christian -- would I change anything? Would I trade my life for another? How can I? I am living the life that the Lord has granted to me, and it is well with my soul.
The Lord doesn't promise us perfection in life - living in a fallen world, tragedies happen all the time. Thorns and jagged edges abound everywhere and we can be cut physically, mentally and emotionally.
However, as a child of God - one whose Lordship is no longer our own, but given over to Christ, God promises eternal life and also to use our lives in a way that is beneficial to his kingdom - a life that is fulfilling because it fills our purpose for living.
At this point, earthly control - earthly results are no longer important. There is an eternity for us to look forward to. As Paul says boldly in Philippians 1:21, to live is Christ, to die is gain. There is no need for control over our futures, instead we merely need to focus on self-control and discipline in living God's ways (one of the fruits of the spirit in Gal. 5:22). Living in submission with Him, He will guide our steps and use us in the way that will maximize our lives, and the lives of our families.
Lord Jesus, in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, the dangers of this life can seem so large and imposing. I forget Your perspective and Your will all too easily. You are in control and You are my Lord. Let my life flow in whatever way and direction You desire. Let me never try to possess my life as if it is something for me to grasp or to lay pride upon. I am yours, and my family is yours. Help me instead to be the best that I can be for them and ultimately for You. In the amazing name of Jesus - the name of salvation, I pray. AMEN.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
The Foolishness of God Saved My Life
"For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe" (1 Cor 1:18)
Paul is pointing out in this verse that there is a stark difference between the world's wisdom and God's wisdom. What God calls wisdom is seen as foolishness by the world. I can remember moments where I scoffed at church and Christians as a kid, in high school, and even in college. Those memories are shameful to me now, but exhibits the kind of scorn that I had during my developmental years.
I learned all about science in school and the theory of evolution. I went to the best schools from primary through college. No where was I taught spiritual disciplines and truth, but at the same time no one could say that I'm not fully trained in the wisdom of the world.
But what kind of behaviors did my scorn of Godly ways develop? I turned into an unhappy and lonely young adult who didn't feel like I had a sliver of hope or meaning in my life. I was empty.
It was not until I resolved to let God run my life fully and completely that I knew that I had a purpose. I wasn't just a number amongst the seas of evolved accidents, but I was fearfully and wonderfully made, knit together in my mother's womb. I also knew how to conduct myself more and more as I read the scripture and learned that God's wisdom was unchanged from the beginning of time. What I had once believed as foolish, gave me the greatest wisdom in the world.
My life changed, and even more importantly, the Holy Spirit had come into my life. I no longer walked alone. Frequent moments of loneliness that I used to have were completely gone. I knew that even when I sat by myself, the Lord was with me. It was an amazing thing - a miracle by itself.
When I hear of suicides or similar acts of desperation, I always despair that that person obviously tried to handle all their problems and issues alone. The weight of the world wasn't meant to be handled by our own strength. As created beings, we were meant to walk with our Creator. I always think, "What if they had only called out to Jesus - not just for a miracle, but to resolve to do everything God's ways?" I know they would have discovered the strength to change, and the way to a life deeper and more fulfilling than they could have ever imagined.
Lord Jesus, thank You for the way out of the downward spiral of my life. Thank You for loving me so much that you continued to pursue me even when I mocked You. If there is a way for me to help others know You, let me do so. In Jesus' name, AMEN.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Sin = Enslavement; Jesus Breaks Sins and Gives Life
"Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. for the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts." (Romans 6:8-12)
In Christianity, we hear of the free gift of Christ very often. Here in Romans 6, Paul details to us what exactly Christ has done for us. Christ sacrificed Himself for the death that we should have died because of our sins, and being God His death has the power to cover all our sins. In addition, only the death of a perfect man under the law could serve as that sacrifice as a sinful man would already deserve death on his own faults. Christ's resurrection of Himself on the third day evidences that death's power has been overcome by Christ's sacrifice. If we believe in Him AND become His follower, then His death is extended to us because we die to our old selves, and are renewed in Christ. We are no longer slaves to sin - but are now slaves to righteousness.
This message isn't a simple one - and although I've been a Christian for a few years now, I also had to struggle with the above paragraph to try to break it down to something simple for me to write...and I only think that I half succeeded.
The part of Romans 6 that has really struck me though is the concept of Lordship. We are either slaves to sin or slaves to righteousness.
Sin attracts us because we want to be free to do whatever we want to do. Our society tends to live by the motto: "If it feels good, do it". Well, sin always feels good at first. There is a rush of doing something that even our souls know is illicit. We are going against God and rebelling feels good.
But as we do our sin more and more, something terrible happens. The enjoyment level falls but the craving to keep doing it increases. Soon we are slowly consumed by the need to sin more and more, while the only enjoyment comes from thinking and doing more perverse ways of sinning. We fall into a deeper and deeper cycle and addiction. Sin, which seemed so attractive and free, has ensnared us.
As we become enslaved to sin, the enjoyment of life decreases. It is difficult to live because we need to sin. We are not free any longer and we have given over our souls to sin.
But Christ is the light that saves us because He alone can break the power of sin. Yes, by accepting Him, we become His followers and His children. But, being our Creator, He knows the optimum ways in which we need to live. He has given us guidelines through His Word to direct us in the ways that will be beneficial to us - ways to maximize our enjoyment and our freedom. But one of the first things that He does for us when we become Christians is that He breaks the shackles of sin, and provides us with a way out of those sins. For some people it is a dramatic turnaround. For others like myself, it is a gradual working and changing of my life more and more towards His ways.
It is such a paradox that although Christ gives us commandments which seem to be so constrictive, our true freedom, peace and happiness is derived from those boundaries. It is like a rule that we can't eat a poison berry. Yes, the berry may taste sweet and delicious, but the poison will ultimately kill us. While eating the berry may seem like freedom, the death that it leads to is the anti-thesis.
Lord Jesus, today You have allowed me to think once again about all that You've done for me in my life. I know that I need to renew my understanding from time to time in order to keep strong in my faith - especially because I have such a short term memory and we are bombarded with messages to sin and live with the world on a daily basis. But, when I recall Your power to break sins, I have to sit and marvel at all the changes You've made in my life. While I am not perfect, You have given me new life, and I am so grateful for it all. I am free in ways I have never known and I have peace and joy deeper than I ever could have imagined. Thank You Jesus. In Your name I pray, AMEN.
In Christianity, we hear of the free gift of Christ very often. Here in Romans 6, Paul details to us what exactly Christ has done for us. Christ sacrificed Himself for the death that we should have died because of our sins, and being God His death has the power to cover all our sins. In addition, only the death of a perfect man under the law could serve as that sacrifice as a sinful man would already deserve death on his own faults. Christ's resurrection of Himself on the third day evidences that death's power has been overcome by Christ's sacrifice. If we believe in Him AND become His follower, then His death is extended to us because we die to our old selves, and are renewed in Christ. We are no longer slaves to sin - but are now slaves to righteousness.
This message isn't a simple one - and although I've been a Christian for a few years now, I also had to struggle with the above paragraph to try to break it down to something simple for me to write...and I only think that I half succeeded.
The part of Romans 6 that has really struck me though is the concept of Lordship. We are either slaves to sin or slaves to righteousness.
Sin attracts us because we want to be free to do whatever we want to do. Our society tends to live by the motto: "If it feels good, do it". Well, sin always feels good at first. There is a rush of doing something that even our souls know is illicit. We are going against God and rebelling feels good.
But as we do our sin more and more, something terrible happens. The enjoyment level falls but the craving to keep doing it increases. Soon we are slowly consumed by the need to sin more and more, while the only enjoyment comes from thinking and doing more perverse ways of sinning. We fall into a deeper and deeper cycle and addiction. Sin, which seemed so attractive and free, has ensnared us.
As we become enslaved to sin, the enjoyment of life decreases. It is difficult to live because we need to sin. We are not free any longer and we have given over our souls to sin.
But Christ is the light that saves us because He alone can break the power of sin. Yes, by accepting Him, we become His followers and His children. But, being our Creator, He knows the optimum ways in which we need to live. He has given us guidelines through His Word to direct us in the ways that will be beneficial to us - ways to maximize our enjoyment and our freedom. But one of the first things that He does for us when we become Christians is that He breaks the shackles of sin, and provides us with a way out of those sins. For some people it is a dramatic turnaround. For others like myself, it is a gradual working and changing of my life more and more towards His ways.
It is such a paradox that although Christ gives us commandments which seem to be so constrictive, our true freedom, peace and happiness is derived from those boundaries. It is like a rule that we can't eat a poison berry. Yes, the berry may taste sweet and delicious, but the poison will ultimately kill us. While eating the berry may seem like freedom, the death that it leads to is the anti-thesis.
Lord Jesus, today You have allowed me to think once again about all that You've done for me in my life. I know that I need to renew my understanding from time to time in order to keep strong in my faith - especially because I have such a short term memory and we are bombarded with messages to sin and live with the world on a daily basis. But, when I recall Your power to break sins, I have to sit and marvel at all the changes You've made in my life. While I am not perfect, You have given me new life, and I am so grateful for it all. I am free in ways I have never known and I have peace and joy deeper than I ever could have imagined. Thank You Jesus. In Your name I pray, AMEN.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
The Earth Will Remain the Same
"The Lord by wisdom founded the earth..." (Prov 3:19)
"The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein." (Ps 24:1)
"While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease." (Gen 8:22)
There are many movements today regarding environmentalism and "saving the earth". From the onset, I would like to clarify that I do regard some of the these movements to be quite beneficial to our standard of living, and it is undoubtable that we live in a nicer and cleaner place because of some of these initiatives. Compare our cities to other places in the world, and it is great to have cleaner air to breathe and cleaner streets to walk upon.
However, many of these movements also have a tremendous fear of the earth somehow dying or changing. These fears are packaged into theories with great warnings that we have to urgently spend lots of money on research, or put a tremendous tax burden upon ourselves to change our behaviors. In addition, we hamstring our lives by preventing our country to use some of the natural resources that we do have.
Now, again to clarify, the non-Christians of the world can believe whatever they want. They do not believe in God, and they don't subscribe to the Bible as holy. That is understandable. However, what about Christians? What does the Bible say to us?
Above in the referenced passages, we see that the Lord created the earth from His wisdom. He spoke and the earth was created. In fact, we see that the Lord owns the earth - it is not ours, it is not owned by Satan. The earth is the Lord's and all of us who are in it.
After the flood in Genesis, the Lord also promised that the earth would always function normally. There would be no great changes that would disturb the working of the earth. Consequently, we do not need to fear climate changes. Yes, there will be some fluctuations in the patterns of weather, but we do not need to extrapolate those changes to means that in 20 years we will all die and be underwater. The Lord is in control.
Science is great. We have many great conveniences that are born out of scientific work and they seem to increase in wonder on a daily basis. It is the job of scientists to also have theories of how things work - but until they are proven through consistent experimentation, they are simply theories.
As Christians, we often clash with the theories, but I don't believe we clash with scientific facts. What we have in addition to theories is the word of God and the presence of God. Christians have a relationship with God and know that He is real because He interacts and counsels us. We are never alone. However, He is also our Lord and as our Lord, we follow Him unquestionably. Part of that Lordship is to take His word as truth. For if we do not do that, we would be foolish to say that we believe in the God of the Bible, but we discard the truths of the Bible given by the same God.
At the same time, when confronted with a scientific theory versus a Biblical promise, what do we acknowledge? It must be the Biblical promise. God is bigger than anything we can do to the earth. God is bigger than the universe because He created it all. If the Lord assures us that the earth will function normally, we will be fine. Carbon dioxide or comets falling from the sky - neither of them will change God's promise to regulate this planet for life. That is truth for a Christian and we need to rest in Him always.
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your assurances through Your Word. Man's wisdom can create grand theories borne out of our fears, but You have promised that the earth will be regulated as long as it exists. The date and time for the end of the earth is likewise not in our hands, but in Yours because You own the earth. It is no one's decision to end the earth - not world leaders, not our actions here on earth, and certainly not Satan's. You and You alone will choose the date and time for the end. Father God, thank You that You always do what You promise and that we can rest even as the world around us panics. Let us carry Your peace with us at all times. In Jesus' name, AMEN.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Trusting God Through Tribulation
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33 NKJV)
It is a very common trap for Christians to believe that when you accept Christ that things should become easy and smooth. After all, God promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us, right? And to be honest, when I first accepted Christ, things were pretty smooth in many ways because God would show His presence very quickly to help reinforce my fledgling faith. But that only lasted for a season, and once I grew into maturity in faith, there were many moments of tribulation, where great patience would be required of me.
As I'm going through another period of trial, I thought it was so enlightening that Jesus Himself stated that tribulation is something that we will all go through as Christians. There is no opting out of it; we simply will not have a completely easy life. In fact, I suspect that God desires to develop our character by putting us through the fire in order to allow ourselves to see what we're made of when put to the test. And the truth is usually pretty embarrassing when we see our reactions of anger, frustration, and self-centeredness.
Most of the time I walk along through life believing that I'm doing all right - I'm good - My faith is strong. But, then when God allows tribulation in my life, I become angry at Him and disillusioned from my erroneous belief that somehow my life should be easier than a non-believer's. "If I am a child of God and an heir to Your kingdom, why don't you make my path easy!!," I whine.
When the fear passes and I come to my senses, I realize that I am fine in the midst of the storm. Nothing has really harmed me and my family and I are well. God is still taking care of us even though my life isn't moving in the direction that I had planned and expected.
It is at that moment that the Lord is finally able to really speak into my life because I no longer am focused on my own goals and objectives. Like the two pilots who were recently suspended, I had been flying on autopilot and ignoring the calls to land at a scheduled destination. In fact, I was too busy arguing with God to pay attention to my bearings.
Lord Jesus, thank You for being patient and gentle with Your servant. I know that I often get so caught up with the cares and concerns over our daily life and my expectations, that You have no way to communicate with me. I'm simply not taking the time to pause and hear You. Please open my heart to You today, and speak whatever You desire. May I have the courage and patience to walk in Your way every single day of my life. In Your saving name, Amen.
It is a very common trap for Christians to believe that when you accept Christ that things should become easy and smooth. After all, God promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us, right? And to be honest, when I first accepted Christ, things were pretty smooth in many ways because God would show His presence very quickly to help reinforce my fledgling faith. But that only lasted for a season, and once I grew into maturity in faith, there were many moments of tribulation, where great patience would be required of me.
As I'm going through another period of trial, I thought it was so enlightening that Jesus Himself stated that tribulation is something that we will all go through as Christians. There is no opting out of it; we simply will not have a completely easy life. In fact, I suspect that God desires to develop our character by putting us through the fire in order to allow ourselves to see what we're made of when put to the test. And the truth is usually pretty embarrassing when we see our reactions of anger, frustration, and self-centeredness.
Most of the time I walk along through life believing that I'm doing all right - I'm good - My faith is strong. But, then when God allows tribulation in my life, I become angry at Him and disillusioned from my erroneous belief that somehow my life should be easier than a non-believer's. "If I am a child of God and an heir to Your kingdom, why don't you make my path easy!!," I whine.
When the fear passes and I come to my senses, I realize that I am fine in the midst of the storm. Nothing has really harmed me and my family and I are well. God is still taking care of us even though my life isn't moving in the direction that I had planned and expected.
It is at that moment that the Lord is finally able to really speak into my life because I no longer am focused on my own goals and objectives. Like the two pilots who were recently suspended, I had been flying on autopilot and ignoring the calls to land at a scheduled destination. In fact, I was too busy arguing with God to pay attention to my bearings.
Lord Jesus, thank You for being patient and gentle with Your servant. I know that I often get so caught up with the cares and concerns over our daily life and my expectations, that You have no way to communicate with me. I'm simply not taking the time to pause and hear You. Please open my heart to You today, and speak whatever You desire. May I have the courage and patience to walk in Your way every single day of my life. In Your saving name, Amen.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Finding The Real "Us"
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matt 6:33 NKJV)
I believe this verse may be one of the most memorized in the US because of the great Karen Lafferty chorus, "Seek Ye First". I remember that I disliked singing this song in school chapel, but I never knew that it was an actual scripture. At that time, to my great shame, I used to mock Christians and Christianity, but the song had done its work - I memorized that verse!
The truth here is simple, but I really miss the mark in my daily life. The Lord is asking us to put Him first in everything. Seek out His kingdom, His presence, His friendship, and His righteousness. Then, He will order our lives and give us the life that we ultimately desire in the bottom of our hearts.
This life won't be the ones that society tells us represents success. It may not involve riches, a big house, a fancy car, or expensive vacations. Those are the kinds of things that society uses to establish social status and bragging rights. God doesn't care about our pride - in fact, if we seek Him out, He'll break down our layers of pride by shaking up our lives in order to reveal our genuine personality.
Who are we really? We spend so much money as a country in therapy trying to find that out. But, the Lord grants us a deep peace in our hearts because He reveals our true personalities to us. When we stop seeking our own personal gratification and give the Lordship of our lives to Jesus, our focus is taken off ourselves and put onto Him. Then He'll show us the things that we need to change and gives us the ability to change them. And the person that emerges is whole - no longer trying to impress the people around them, but instead living in friendship with God, the way we were created to live.
Lord Jesus, Help me to seek You and Your righteousness first - before striving to seek out accomplishments and things that I believe will make me happy. I want You to arrange and order my life. You've already begun a good work in my soul, and I have been so blessed by it. Please keep eliminating those prideful layers that I know prevent me from living a real life of freedom in You. And thank You for being my Lord, God and friend. In Jesus' name, Amen.
I believe this verse may be one of the most memorized in the US because of the great Karen Lafferty chorus, "Seek Ye First". I remember that I disliked singing this song in school chapel, but I never knew that it was an actual scripture. At that time, to my great shame, I used to mock Christians and Christianity, but the song had done its work - I memorized that verse!
The truth here is simple, but I really miss the mark in my daily life. The Lord is asking us to put Him first in everything. Seek out His kingdom, His presence, His friendship, and His righteousness. Then, He will order our lives and give us the life that we ultimately desire in the bottom of our hearts.
This life won't be the ones that society tells us represents success. It may not involve riches, a big house, a fancy car, or expensive vacations. Those are the kinds of things that society uses to establish social status and bragging rights. God doesn't care about our pride - in fact, if we seek Him out, He'll break down our layers of pride by shaking up our lives in order to reveal our genuine personality.
Who are we really? We spend so much money as a country in therapy trying to find that out. But, the Lord grants us a deep peace in our hearts because He reveals our true personalities to us. When we stop seeking our own personal gratification and give the Lordship of our lives to Jesus, our focus is taken off ourselves and put onto Him. Then He'll show us the things that we need to change and gives us the ability to change them. And the person that emerges is whole - no longer trying to impress the people around them, but instead living in friendship with God, the way we were created to live.
Lord Jesus, Help me to seek You and Your righteousness first - before striving to seek out accomplishments and things that I believe will make me happy. I want You to arrange and order my life. You've already begun a good work in my soul, and I have been so blessed by it. Please keep eliminating those prideful layers that I know prevent me from living a real life of freedom in You. And thank You for being my Lord, God and friend. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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