by David Brenneman
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:58.
Such a small verse packed with so much.
Seems like a lot of Paul's writings wrapped up all together. Standing firm in the Lord. Set your mind on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world.
Your days, my Dear Reader, are in fact numbered. We, well nobody, likes to consider their mortality. Nobody likes to realize that in every way that matters there is a sentence of death upon all humanity.
Unless much is written and shared intentionally, people are forgotten in this life.
As had been said in a very popular movie...your future hasn't been written yet...so make it a good one.
Is the notion of giving an account of your life before Jesus at all pressing on your mind? That in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, your life can be stopped here and your next thoughts will be of your location in your eternal destination?
What will Jesus say of your life?
Are all the things you've accomplished or accumulated going to matter when you really are standing before Him? It's coming you know. For me, for you, for everyone.
In the beginning chapters of the book of Revelation...it's written "...who has ears...". The question is...are you an active listener to the things of God?
My daily reading took me to a passage in Matthew...of when Jesus sent out the 12 Disciples to all of Israel. Gave them instructions. Was interesting that one instruction seemed to be pointing to only 1 Disciple. Judas Iscariot. We read later that he was in charge of the money. In this commission they were told not to consider gathering any while fulfilling their calling.
All who are saved in Christ Jesus have a calling. There's none who do not. Absolutely everyone who has been saved is a part of the body of Christ. In these letters to the Corinthians Paul had been telling them about this.
Procrastination is heavy in the Church of God these days and has been for many centuries. If indeed the Church was being the Church...this world would look a whole lot different. Had Israel been true worshippers and followed the Lord with all their hearts...the whole of the Old Testament would have been radically different.
Are you listening yet? Your choices make a kingdom difference. Every single one of them. From the seemingly important to the seemingly unimportant. Our thoughts on priorities impact the growth of each and every single person's life in Christ.
Where do you stand?
Are you putting importance on things of this world and are denying that you are?
Are you considering your ways, as the Bible teaches us to do?
Are you really living in obedience to God's Word or are you really deceiving yourself?
He is the vine, we who are saved are the branches. We get our sustenance from the vine. Not anything or anyone else. The job of every single plant created by God is to be as written in its DNA from seed to its death. To be attached to the ground, to blossom and grow, to fulfill its calling while present to be seen.
Is honoring God really your top priority or do you only say that but not live that?
Believing in Jesus isn't enough.
Demons over and over again in the Gospels proved they did. So what's your advantage? What separates you from them? Why should He let you into His Heaven? We're to be doers of the word and not just hearers only.
Spring is coming. Regardless of the snowfall of recent days Spring is going to come.
Two things...first is that is written in the Bible...the establishment of the seasons. Read Genesis. If that had been unalterable for centuries...know that it's written that Jesus is indeed going to return. Be prepared for that. Now. Not later. Not after your movie or your game or even cleaning up your home. Now. Do the deeds that are from the imparted righteousness of God in Christ Jesus that is in you from that vine.
Secondly...Spring is a time many decide to clean. Start now in considering what needs to go from your life. What need to change that is going to show yourself and others that you truly are a follower of Christ? Sell, give away, toss, whatever your are putting as more important than your calling in Christ. Sin does so easily entangle us. We've grown accustomed to it rather than learning to fight it.
Oh Dear Reader...when...not if...when you see Jesus...can you imagine how you will be? Will shame grip you? Will joy? Will you, as the popular song says...fall to your knees or will you run to Him?
What you make important now is going to impact how you will view Jesus then.
Read that again.
What you make important now is going to impact how you will view Jesus then.
Think about that long and hard.
Our lives are not our own. Because of the cross of Jesus Christ we have responsibilities. We are not suggested to be doers of the word and not just hearers only. We are not given a recommendation to do so. We are commanded to do so.
The full passage says this: "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 1:22-27.
Your job isn't more important.
Your home isn't more important.
Your likes or dislikes aren't more important.
Your hobbies are not more important.
We just celebrated Christmas. But there's one song with a single line that rings on even now: Do you hear what I hear?
The Spirit does speak to each and every single Believer. He is the Helper. He is the Teacher of all things in Christ Jesus. A Teacher speaks, the students listen.
In every single year of school there is always someone being told to put away something and pay attention in class...question is...is this you today?
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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