by David Brenneman
"The plans of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, But the Lord weighs the motives. Commit your works to the Lord And your plans will be established." Proverbs 16:1-3.
It's oh so easy, in the heat of the moment, to say this or that. To promise this or that. To decide this or that.
Our either being humble in the moment or prideful in the moment isn't hidden from God.
Possessions, places to stay, to see, things to do...great care must be taken to place any above our relationship with Jesus.
As a runner, my Group Leader has often said, keep pace with Jesus. Don't get ahead of Him. Pay attention to what He's doing. Pay attention to where He's going. It's way more important than person's places or things.
As some in my life have come to realize, even family should not come before Jesus.
First place in our hearts is where He should be for all of us.
For many you'll know who's first place in their life by what they wear.
For them and others, you'll know who's first place by what proceeds out of their mouths.
This passage in Proverbs matches perfectly with Colossians 3:23-25 "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality."
What is more important to you? Is Jesus first place in your heart or have you had Jesus sit down while other people or things have taken His rightfull place in you?
Some try to jump into the path of things that the Spirit is working on in order to look like the hero of the story. My Dear Reader...do not do that.
Dr. Charles Stanley's Life Principle 16..."Whatever you aquire outside of God's will eventually turns to ashes".
Number 19 "Anything you hold too tightly, you will lose".
Then we go to #24 "To live the Christian life is to allow Jesus to live His life in and through us".
Also do not forget number 28 "No Christian has ever been called to 'go it alone" in his or her walk of faith".
Please, my Dear Reader, don't fool yourself in what you include in your life. Jesus is jealous for the Spirit that resides within the heart of all Believers.
Jesus knows your thoughts from afar. Jesus knows your true motivations. Jesus knows your real reasons why regardless of what you say out loud.
Reality is that we WILL give an account of our lives before Jesus for what we did in our bodies for Jesus. It will not have anything to do with personal accomplishments apart from Jesus or how much of this world we got to see.
The world would have everyone believe it doesn't matter.
The Spirit is at work 24/7 365...do you see that it really does matter?
Take stock of your life.
It's time for a reality check.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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