by David Brenneman
"How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers." Psalms 1:1-3.
"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." Philippians 1:9-11.
"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." Philippians 2:12-13.
Your efforts in Christ are never in vain. Those in your world might not understand or see the value in what you do to grow in Christ but that doesn't matter. Jesus's words always ring true "What's that to you? As for you...you follow Me!"
I have lived a life in various places over the years and in those places, as well as today, people are both different and difficult to understand and get along with as they are to understand me.
It's taken these decades to start not considering what others think of me. That in truth the only audience I should have ever cared to hear from should always have been only Jesus.
Part of the Christian life is this. If Jesus was a man of sorrows well acquainted with grief...it came from many things including being misunderstood by people and their ultra harsh criticism of Him.
Our walk with Jesus is beyond more important than anything or anyone else vying for a chunk of our time, energy and effort to live the life set before us.
Commitment is a very big core value of a life in Christ. I have often pushed my limits because of the intrusion of events or people into my time with Jesus in the mornings of my life or my evenings before going to bed.
In my way younger years I often thought it ok to just catch up later. Now in my life I refuse to accept that as acceptable.
Jesus has been investing Himself in me...in you...should that be laid waste because of my or your ignorance of it or my or your dismissal of it?
In my now intensive evening readings across these 4 Study Bibles its been a ramped up training course. I prayed to be helped in learning how to study. Now I am.
What has your attention more than Jesus? Who are you believing more than the Spirit of God? What idolatrous thinking or things or people might be in your life that you're ignoring as a problem between you and Jesus?
Some people are afraid to ask Jesus for discernment. Some are afraid to really get down and dirty in taking the Christian life seriously because they fear the unknown of what God "might" call them to do or to give up or...well it can go on and on.
Satan loves to play on those seeds of fear. Probably as much as he loves to get you and I to rationalize our choices to do other things than spending time alone with your Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.
He is the vine we are the branches...we are to use what He supplies for us to grow in Christ.
Apart from Jesus we can do nothing. Cells in a branch that aren't doing what the vine directs are the same as cells in a body gone rogue...they are cancerous not beneficial not normal cells.
When someone comes to Christ for salvation...they give up all rights to living life their way because of the faith and trust in Jesus for His finished work on the cross. Because of His stepping into the path and taking our penalty of death upon Himself, we live out the life-debt to Him.
I am thinking that I am entering a new stage in my life as far as the approval of others goes for me. My desire to dress differently is growing. To look differently is growing with regards to being shaven more often and possibly more haircuts. My choices of attire are changing. My views on some things that I once really heavily clung to are changing. Not all at once but gradually. I see it as a God thing. It's not so much about first impressions but rather to be seen in such a way that I am more usable to my Savior Jesus Christ.
My desires are even changing towards those that are more God honoring.
These things are part of growing in Christ. He is the Potter we are the clay. Being molded into the image of God in Christ Jesus that we are meant to be.
More of Him, less of me. I knew a man once whom made that part of his everyday prayer life.
When you are really looking at your life...what you involve yourself in...what you've given parts of your heart to...would all parts be stamped with the approval of Jesus?
Jesus said that in the day we give an account of our lives before Him that our lives will be tested by fire. All the useless things will go up in flames. All that was done in Christ for Christ will remain to form a crown to give back to Jesus for all He's done for us.
How are you looking to invest more in your learning about your Savior and Lord Jesus Christ? A friend last night spoke of someone they knew who rewrote the entire Bible. Dr. David Jeremiah has a series of book projects you can get to learn the Bible by rewriting a book at a time. I began doing that in Romans some time ago and am looking to restart it again.
Get creative. Doing something to listen and learn from the Spirit of God is beyond better than doing nothing.
As a friend has pointed out...we are in a marathon with Jesus and as I read in some study notes last night...everyone is to finish in a dead heat. We are all cross that line with Jesus.
So what are your efforts in Christ?
What are you engaged in that you know in your heart of hearts isn't meeting God's approval?
Pray without ceasing. Set your mind on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world. Trust 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.
And "Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men".
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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