by David Brenneman
Yes you...
"And He said to His disciples, “For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life’s span? If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith! And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit. Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them. Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into. You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.” Peter said, “Lord, are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?” Luke 12:22-41.
Peter often spoke for the other Disciples. He asked the question and Jesus responded...read on.
"And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and begins to beat the slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk; the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers. And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes, but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more. I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law. And He was also saying to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it turns out. And when you see a south wind blowing, you say, ‘It will be a hot day,’ and it turns out that way. You hypocrites! You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why do you not analyze this present time?" Luke 12:42-56.
What He was saying was for everyone. Them and everyone til this present time in human history and on til the end of it.
We go about our days trying to work at getting rid of what makes us anxious. We are intentional at denying what bothers us to the end that many get ill from the effects and efforts to do so.
We come up with things we say we have to do rather than to stop and sit at the feet of Jesus.
We become either Mary's or Martha's in this world.
We fill our minds with either the useful things in Christ or useless things that really are of no benefit. Facts and figures that in light of eternity mean absolutely nothing.
In my years around the sun I have accumulated a lot about quite a few things...yet in my 2 months of this year in really digging into my Bible studies...I have learned that I really have wasted much of my life on fruitless things. Wasted brain cells.
I find myself saddened by the futility of what I wasted my time, energy and effort doing or getting involved with that had nothing to do with growing in Christ.
I too, like you, had convinced myself of what I was indulging in was what I earned or deserved for my life.
Countless people in this world want to identify as something other than what they are.
Many will stand before Jesus identifying as those who were busy being Christians who weren't because they never really knew Jesus. They never had a point in their life where they gave their life to Christ for salvation. They knew all the words and knew the behaviors. But they missed the opportunity.
My Dear Reader I truly hope you aren't one of those people.
Coming to Christ isn't about getting a golden ticket and then going on about life as if nothing was different. Life-change should always accompany coming to Christ for salvation.
It's extremely easy to be busy in life.
It's more complicated to be busy with the things of God that lead us towards His righteousness. The putting off of the old self with its passions and desires and putting on the new self in Christ Jesus.
We often get intentionally busy with anything but Bible study or prayer because deep down we feel guilty of something. No if you don't think about it, it won't go away. The Spirit will keep reminding Believers of those things that need to change or to go away from a fruitful life in Christ. If there's no prodding from the Spirit in your life towards a righteous life in Christ...maybe then you should be questioning your salvation.
Jesus told a parable about the wheat and the tares. The wheat was those really who were saved. Tares were false wheat. Looked acted like real wheat until grown then it was obvious to all that it was fake.
You cannot afford to be a fake Christ follower. A fake Christian.
Those saved do indeed have studies that await them. Jesus said that the Spirit was coming who would be the Helper, to teach us all that Jesus commanded us.
I don't know of too many people who didn't daydream in school and get called out for doing so. Preoccupied with life outside of the reason for being in a place of learning.
We are predisposed towards staying away from the plans that God has for us because of our sin nature. We are predisposed towards things that have nothing to do with growing in Christ because of our sin nature. We have no need to be taught of how to be busy bodies with regards to avoiding spiritual things and matters.
In the New Testament we are often compared to being soldiers of the cross of Jesus Christ. Our enlistment includes the same as what an individual experiences today in real basic training. Stop with trying to bring your old life into your new life in this here and now. Now is the time to learn how to get mentally and physically and spiritually ready for what will come into your life in the days months and years ahead.
Are you occupied with things to keep you busy but aren't doing anything of value in your life in Christ?
Convinced that what you're doing just HAS to get done? That you EARNED what you're going to pour yourself into?
Like the Disciples, we are to deny ourselves, take up our own cross, and follow Jesus. There you have it straight from Jesus.
Where your treasure is there your heart will be also. Again straight from Jesus.
Trust in yourself and what your understanding is opposed to trusting in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.
Everyone will stand before Jesus. At the moment that comes He has all eternity at His disposal to meet with everyone in an instant. No person will escape that meeting.
What will your life show of how you treated your life before Jesus?
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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