What are You Waiting for?

What are You Waiting for?

by David Brenneman 

As I sit here, pretty much in silence, the furnace running, the clock on the wall doing what it does...the gentle tick-tock.  No other noises to disturb the peace.  

I really didn't sleep well last night at all.  But God's still put a today in front of me to accomplish something for Him.  Perspective is as important as perception with regards to living life.  

I was looking at my Journal after reading my Bible.  Looking at the posts of earlier years on this day.  Struggles with life were up and down...really not much different than today. 

At work, there are those whom I trust and currently there are a few who seriously abused my trust.  This too isn't much different than many places that I have worked.  As Bruce Hendrick points out in his book "Building Trust", significant withdrawals have been made from the trust bank. 

Perspective and perception. I have learned from others still wiser than myself that perception is everything.  Regardless of what things look like, our perception of those things make those things real to us.

What is your perception of your relationship with Jesus?  Do you invest in it?  Are you making it your highest priority?  Is Jesus, truthfully, more of an acquaintance to you rather than your Savior and Lord? Only you can answer that and nobody needs to confess that to me.  If that's your view of Jesus Christ, the One who died in your place on a cross for your sins, your perspective is seriously flawed. 

Are you waiting until you think you've gotten out of life what all you wanted and only then plan on fully living for Jesus?

The audacity of such a thought is profound.  Many millions of people who say they are Believer's are living life in such a way.  These same people aren't at all recognizing the work of the Spirit of God in their lives.  

My Dear Reader, the Spirit isn't presenting infomercial suggestions to get you to buy into a product. 

The work of the Spirit of God is to grow you in Christ, to become more like Christ.  When we put up a hand at the Spirit and keep saying "Wait a minute! I'm not done yet...", we open the door to more intense interaction with the Spirit.  The things in life we value more than our life in Christ will be revealed with the opportunity for us to let go of before they are taken from us.

Do you have a mind that's set on knowing Jesus?  Do you even want what He wants?  We read that David was a man after God's own heart.  Read also how nit David's soul was with Jonathan his friend, King Saul's son.  

A superficial relationship, also known as a lukewarm relationship, these are spit out and cast away from Jesus.  

The really wonderful thing about grace and mercy is that no matter how far we perceive we are from the Lord Jesus, we are only 1 step away from His open arms. 

In recent days I will admit that I have been rattled by a few people around me.  While driving I have had 2 in a row, while I was sitting waiting my turn to turn, almost take off my driver's side headlight. Yesterday, a "blue bullet" flew over a crest right at me where a few seconds earlier there were no vehicles.  I missed getting creamed by inches. While it's done a small number on my nerves, my life is hidden with Christ in God.  Regardless of what Satan or his minions try to do to shut me up...he has to make a request to try from Jesus.  I have told countless Pastor's that if they need to use a conversation with me as a sermon example to go for it. Living for Jesus more and more will get you noticed by the enemy of God.  Regardless of how you feel about it, you and I are still supposed to pursue a life in Godliness in Christ Jesus. Regardless of how big a target we have on us, our life will always be in the hands of Jesus Christ. Jesus says that nobody is able to take us from there. 

Why this different approach to blog writing today?  Ask Jesus.  As He directs, so I write.  We are all going to have trials and tribulations attempting to live Godly in Christ Jesus.  When we embrace the 'safety' of things from this world instead, we will lose out on what we could have had in a future reward in Christ.  

A very much favorite hymn to me is "Living for Jesus".  

Living for Jesus, a life that is true,

Striving to please Him in all that I do;

Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,

This is the pathway of blessing for me.

Refrain:

O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,

For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;

I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne;

My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.

2. Living for Jesus Who died in my place,

Bearing on Calv’ry my sin and disgrace;

Such love constrains me to answer His call,

Follow His leading and give Him my all.

3. Living for Jesus, wherever I am,

Doing each duty in His holy Name;

Willing to suffer affliction and loss,

Deeming each trial a part of my cross.

4. Living for Jesus through earth’s little while,

My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;

Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,

Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.

It's a 1917 hymn by Thomas Chisholm. 

Jesus isn't your 'man upstairs'.

Jesus isn't your butler. 

Jesus isn't your go-to only when you're having a hard go of it.

Jesus isn't your last resort. 

Jesus isn't a visitor now and then when you have nothing else going on.

Jesus isn't your cheerleader when you are pursuing a career that's not what He wanted for you. 

Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  

Jesus is the Creator of everything and everyone. 

Jesus is the Christ the Son of God. 

Jesus is coming again. 

Jesus is to be our everything.

Honestly? My prayer for any and all is that if you've put anything or anyone above Jesus in your life...that He would remove it.  I don't even want to see that in myself. What are you waiting for in really living for Jesus? What are you deciding is more important that your relationship being right between you and Jesus?  

"We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ," 2 Corinthians 10:5. 

Would this be something that people see active and alive in your life?  If not, again, what are you waiting for?  

Pray for your own eyes to be opened to see you as you are before Him.  Pursue a life that honors your relationship with Jesus.  No time like the present. 

No time to waste. 

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.