by David Brenneman
"So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain." Philippians 2:12-16.
"Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures. This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." James 1:17-27.
I grew up in the Church. My earliest memories are of being in Church. I saw it, sometimes it was me, the seeing of how attitudes changed after Church let out.
This thing of even in today's world it happens. People have a mindset that they gave God a few hours at Church so now they are on their own time. Life doesn't happen that way.
We do not set the example of Christ by being part-time Christians.
Paul lived out, Peter lived out, James lived out, Timothy lived out, all the surviving Apostles lived out Christ 24/7, 365 days a year.
Living out their salvation with fear and trembling. Not fear as in afraid, fear as in with respect and honor. Not trembling as if paranoid, trembling as in taking every step seriously, taking...well...every thought captive to the obedience of Christ Jesus.
We live in days that increasingly are after our every spare moment. We have advertisers that push into everything we put our eyes to.
Even www.biblegateway.com has succumbed to the heavy-handed push of advertising on their free site. To me, personally, this dishonors God when it comes to the reading and study of God's word.
We can't go anywhere these days it seems without additional intrusion into how we think and its impact on how we behave.
The anger of man does not bring about the righteousness of God.
That's what my Bible says.
We also have an obsession with seeking out that which stirs our anger yet does nothing to cause us to pray about those things before Jesus.
There's no end to "content" being created to mock the behavior of others, to stir up anger, and leave people to themselves.
The point of this is this: God's not after your free time. He's wanting you 24/7 365. He's wanting me for that time frame as well.
We read of Jesus being the Great Shepherd. He is because He gives His sheep His undivided, unedited, unending attention and protection.
He is wanting His sheep who hear His voice to give of their best to their Master, their Shepherd Jesus Christ.
When we focus on anger and the things that will never grow us in Christ, we waste our time here on Earth. If Satan can't get to your soul, he will try to make you useless to the cause of Christ.
He will stir up your sin nature to get you to be of no use to Jesus. He will cause our emotions to get the best of us. Cause us to not think about the word of God as a first line of defense in our thinking because we're too busy reacting.
If we paid more attention to the truth that Jesus isn't our butler and is to be our closest friend, confidant, our everything, would we be immersed in the things we are?
Would we see the truth of what He says is idolatry in our lives? If He says it is, then why do we not remove it from our lives? Idolatry is EVERYWHERE these days.
The drive in advertisers is towards the greatest form of idolatry: you. Selfishness. You getting what you earned, what you deserve, what you desire, who cares what it costs.
Getting you to not help your brother in need because after all it's your time and hard earned money. If they would work harder then they wouldn't be in that position. Isn't this line of thinking the same as those in the story Jesus told of the Good Samaritan who did nothing for the person in need?
To live for Jesus is going to cost us those things that are most desirable to us. If anything is more important to us, be it time, energy or money, or possessions, they will become the chains that bind us. To some, these chains have been in place for so long they're now a blanket. Not thought of as a trap that they really are.
Do you give of your best to God?
Do you intentionally meet with Jesus every single day?
Do you live life differently when you are alone versus being around other Believers? Around others who aren't saved yet? You realize what Hagar the concubine of Abraham said in the wilderness concerning her newfound thoughts of God? "You are the God who sees".
We read in Psalms of the revelations of King David that the Lord searches the hearts. From when we were formed in our Mother's womb He knew us.
We read of how jealous He is for the Spirit within us.
We read of the truth from His own mouth that if He goes away, that He will return again. He's preparing a place for those who are His.
Are you seeing that your life is not your own? That you were bought with a price? The blood of Jesus Christ. That the price paid is too high for us to give our leftovers to our Savior and Lord?
Maybe we need a Spiritual episode of Hoarders. Clean out those things that are grabbing at our time, energy and efforts that indeed belong to Christ Jesus.
I don't watch the news because the hearing of it causes me anger issues. I sift headlines online but that's it. It keeps me informed without causing my mind to be assaulted.
I don't watch television because of it robbing my time from me.
I do look for instructional videos to teach me things that might help my skills. This is an avenue, I believe, that God is using with me to teach me free of charge.
I do not sacrifice my times in the morning or before going to bed that belong to Christ for me. Those times in my Bible are non-negotiable.
Is your life really right before God?
Do you live life in such a way that people see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven?
Jesus, by way of example, showed that He would rather spend His 'me' time with His Father than be alone.
Do you see it that there's is never a moment when you are not to live life for Jesus? He is the God who sees.
Take the time to be real with you.
See if indeed you are seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness. See if indeed He gets your best. See if you need to clear out things to make more room for the righteous life that God desires for you.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
No comments:
Post a Comment