Is Doing Well for Jesus Your Priority?

Is Doing Well for Jesus Your Priority?

by David Brenneman 

"if you will listen to the voice of the Lord your God, keeping all His commandments which I am commanding you today, and doing what is right in the sight of the Lord your God." Deuteronomy 13:18

This statement at the end of the verse is repeated many times in this book let alone throughout the Bible. 

In many other places, associated with the judgment of God, it says that people were doing whatever was right in their own eyes. 

The deeds we do in our bodies for Jesus, it's these that will show our maturity in Christ.  It is these that we've done with a whole heart that will become a crown of righteousness to offer back to Jesus for all He's done for us. 

In many ways we can see the things we do for Christ.  We don't realize we're also part of a bigger picture. 

We're part of giving to missionaries that are being the hands and feet of Jesus to the uttermost parts of the world.  

We who give are to be givers back to Jesus for all He's done for us. 

Bitterness impacts our giving.  

Anger impacts our giving. 

When the things that we read are named among the people of God...there's trouble. 

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;  and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.  But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints;  and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.  For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God." Ephesians 5:1-5.

We shouldn't speak even to how effective or ineffective those around us have been or are being.  We should be encouraging one another and all the more as we see the day of the Lord drawing near.

Any church that Christ planted by way of the Spirit should not be spoken against.  We don't know what God knows concerning its effectiveness or ineffectiveness.  We are not aware of a great deal of the spiritual things going on in our world. Churches sometimes have short lifespans some have long lifespans.  

We are to have the mind of Christ.  We are to go and make disciples.  

We aren't to criticize, which equates to grumbling, about others.

To be an effectual doer means keeping our mind and heart on what it is the Spirit has for us to be doing wherever it is.  He is the Judge of all those who have called upon His Name.  Not judging with regard to sin but with regards to how well WE were in our lives for Christ. 

Doing well for Jesus is more than we think.  To that point it's often more than we ask because we don't ask.  Some from fear don't ask.  Some from bitterness have a wrong view of what living for Jesus looks like. 

As Jesus said to Peter...forget what others are saying or doing...as for you...you follow Me!   

Are you an effectual doer?

Are you really?

Are you asking Jesus, what can I be doing that I am not?

Are you putting down others in Christ an not realizing you're hurting your relationship with Jesus?

This will hurt your being an effectual doer.

Are you doing your best at living for Jesus to give Him a robust rich crown of righteousness?  

Are you taking a very close look at your thoughts?  Scripture says to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ Jesus for good. 

We don't know the hearts of others until we have a relationship with them.  We won't know the heart of Jesus until we develop our relationship with Him.   We only think we know those who have been in our lives.  Jesus does and did know the hearts of those people. 

Pray that you have the mind of Christ.  Pray that your heart be searched by Jesus to see if there be any hurtful way in me...as King David wrote. Pray that He lead you in the way everlasting. 

We can help or hurt our relationship with Jesus by our attitude more than our actions. 

Pray for a right heart attitude. 

This will go a long way in adding to that crown of righteousness to give back to Jesus.  

That day we give an account of our lives is assuredly coming as the judgment that's around the corner that's coming upon all who have denied Jesus Christ for salvation. 

Is doing well for Jesus your priority?

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