“8. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 10. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.“
Let every action you take be motivated by love. Then let your actions be guided by God. Doing so will prevent hurt to others and will also strengthen your brother.
If people react poorly to your good deeds and acts of kindness, check your motivation. If your motivation is wrong, or is not from a place of love, then everything that follows your action will be wrong too. You will be received poorly, and the responses you get will be opposite of what you expected.
Let love prevail. We cannot give evil for evil. Understand there is power in forgiveness, and choosing to show love instead. Stand in that victory or power, choose to be free and love!
It’s love over everything.
Choose to pay the love you owe and have a blessed day!
All of the years that you have sat under excellent teaching from preachers and teachers. All the years you have spent in reading and studying the Bible, now is the time to put it all into practice – everyday.
While men’s hearts are failing them because of fear, let us not be counted among them. Let your life be a witness to all. Yes, we are living in perilous times, but God is still on the throne, and he is in control.
The Bible has always said that the just shall live by his (and her) faith. People are now watching us to see where is our faith. Don’t let them down. Be that beacon of faith. Let them see that there is hope, and that hope is in Christ.
Have you ever wondered, or felt like you have wasted a lot of time? Or felt like you have not accomplished much with the life that God has given you?
You may (or others have) recognized your potential. However, how to transition from potential to achieving goals seems to allude you.
Potential, by definition, is having or showing the capacity to become or develop into something in the future.
Capacity, by definition, is the ability or power to do, experience, or understand something.
Fortunately, there is hope. Change is possible. The most important thing you need is to recognize that you are stuck. You are in a loop that will follow you through your life, unless you take steps to make a change.
From this point of self awareness, the next logical step is to repent. Sincerely ask God to forgive you. Why? Because it also speaks to your level of commitment – to God and doing his work. Once you have repented, ask God to help you make different choices.
This is a clean slate for you.
Change. By definition, change is the act or instance of making or becoming different
God has designed us for greatness (Psalms 139.14). We are full of potential to achieve, succeed, overcome, inspire, and endure for the cause of Christ. God has given us capacity to expand and be enlarged. It is our duty to seek after God, to study his word, then to put that word into action through faith. This takes commitment.
Change begins with making different choices. If we do what we have always done, we will get what we always got. We most consistently do this every day. Be mindful and consider what you are doing. Make a choice that will push you in the direction you in which you need to go.
Choice is important to God. God made us free will moral agents. In Joshua 24:15, we are instructed to choose who we will serve. God does not want to force or make you do anything. He wants to be your choice – everyday. This seems easy, because we all feel that we do this with ease. And to some degree that is true. But moving from potential to achievement requires a deeper level of commitment. It requires new choices that cost more from us. Luke 12:48 tells us “to whom much is five, much is required.”
Your new deeper choices will cause the change in your life that you are seeking. But it will also require a closer relationship with God. It is important to understand we cannot change on our own. We need the power of God to sustain us. This is key because our flesh will always want to go back to our old familiar ways. Only God can keep us on the path that brings glory to him.
Change is possible. With God, all things are (Matthew 19:26).
“That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.“
If we are not careful, we will forget who we are and who we serve.
The enemy’s goal is to have us so distracted by what is going on in the world today, that we forget. He would like us to forget the God who has delivered us time and time again. He would like us to forget the God who has consistently met all of our needs (food, clothing, shelter, finances, etc.), and has blessed us so many ways we cannot count.
The enemy’s goal is to slip in quietly and whisper ungodly wisdom designed to attack the foundation on which we stand – subtlety.
But don’t be shaken. Don’t be fooled or seduced by this silver tongued devil. Rather make sure to spend time in personal devotion with God. Prayer, praise and worship. Spend time reading and meditating on God’s word. This will encourage your heart. It will sure up your foundation, and remind you of whose you are and who you are in Him!
Take no thought of HOW your needs will be met. Just as David said in Psalms 37:25, God has our back. Even look over you own history and reflect on how God has ALWAYS had your back. Trust the God that is the same and never changes. If he has done it before he WILL do it again.
We do not panic. Panic speaks to that inward doubt and unbelief we try to hide. Instead, expose that to God. Just as the man who was seeking help for his son from Jesus (Mark 9:23-24). When we tell God of our inward struggle he is able to help and deliver us.
Be not shaken – God is in control. But prepare yourself, for the day of the Lord hand.
“18. give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19. Do not quench the Spirit.”
Sometimes things happen to us that are not good, when this happens I have a choice. I can react , poorly (by being mad, upset, scared, ungrateful, be fearful, or have an attitude, etc.), or I can do what the Bible says. and give thanks.
Just to be clear – I am not thankful for the bad thing that happens. Rather, I am thankful because the situation is an opportunity for God to be glorified in my life.
We do not live in a vacuum. People see our lives – some even watch it like it is a TV show.
Because of this God uses us to bring glory to himself. It is an honor to be used by God. This reason alone is enough to give thanks. But when we recognize the opportunity we are facing it is imperative to follow God’s instructions (walking according to the Bible). When we do this it creates space for God to be exalted in our situations.
It creates space for miracles.
With the current situation the world is facing with the Coronavirus, I give thanks. Not for the virus, but for the God that is Lord of all. I am thankful for this opportunity for God to show himself mighty.
I chose faith over fear. I chose to trust God, and not succumb to irrational fear and negative behavior. I choose to be responsible and to act responsibly in caring for myself and others.
My choice is to give thanks and leave room for God to do what needs to be done in my life.
“19. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20. To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”“
As the old song says “don’t worry, be happ.”
We cannot spend our precious time worrying about what people may say or do. We can only control our actions and reactions.
It is far to easy to react without thought of consequences. But that has proven to be a wrong move, every time. Rather, spend your energy on being kind – always. This pleases God and it confuses your enemy. Let God handle people. He has always been on our side. He promised to be our protector and our comfort. Let God handle his business. Just make sure your actions are above reproach.
Just be kind to all. It is less stressful to you and a blessing to all involved.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.“
It takes courage to be different – to stand apart from the crowd to maintain a set of Godly values.
It is easy to go with the the flow. To agree with whatever the world deems is the new correct way to proceed. It is easy not to oppose, but to just give in. Even when you know it is a bad Idea.
The problem with this is we serve a God who is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore. He does not change. His requirements do not change. His word will never change or fail.
To many, instead of standing on the infallible word of God, It is more inclusive to try and change our “interpretation” of the word. To try to convince the world that we had it wrong all along, and now the word means this… (insert the flavor of the flow here).
The Bible encourages us to not conform to the world (it’s views, goals, desires and beliefs), but to be transformed. We can only be transformed (a dramatic change), when our mind is renewed (give fresh life or strength to) by the word of God. Only God is able to change the way we think. When our thinking is changed, so will our behavior.
With a mind that is strengthened and support by the word of God, it is not hard to stand apart. To be that peculiar people.
With a renewed mind we can operate is love, for we are motivated by love. This love of God will automatically cause us to show Godly inclusion to all. To preach a gospel that speaks to us all, no matter who or where we are.
With a renewed mind, we are equipped to withstand the storm and pass the test. Testing will let us know that we are able to discern God’s will. This is key for the believer. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 3:5: “in all they getting, get understanding.”
All of the opportunities we have to stand firm on what the Bible says, are tests. Weather we succeed or fail, we gain experience. Your experience will help you to understand what is God’s good, acceptable, and perfect will. This understanding will identify the areas in your walk with God that are good, or acceptable or perfect (right) to Him; or where we are missing the mark altogether.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.“
Important Definitions:
Present: Give someone (a gift or award) in a formal or ceremonial way. Show or offer (something) for others to scrutinize or consider.
Living: Alive. The pursuit of a lifestyle of the specified type.
Sacrifice: An animal, person, or object offered in a sacrifice. An act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy.
Holy: Dedicated or consecrated to God.
I have learned that there should be a difference between who you were when you first met God, (that point where you began to have a relationship with him), and who you are as you gain experience through walking with him.
The difference occurs as we mature in our knowledge of him, by practically applying the lessons we learned to our daily lives. This is also called wisdom. Maturing in Christ.
The last topic was entitled It’s Time to Grow Up. Today’s we are talking about spiritual maturity. The reason being is it is time for us to move beyond milk as babes, to strong meat (1 Corinthians 3:1-3). It is time to mature so we can make room to receive new believers surely coming. Additionally, there is a work to be done, and we must be strong enough to accomplish it, to see it through to the end.
We are to present our selves to God. A gift given to him to use so that his will can be done.
God is looking for us to live a life that is daily offered to him. A life that we daily seek to please him and do his will. See definitions above. We are to daily pursue after God – seeking to live a life that pleases him.
Our life should be a sacrifice to God. Offering ourselves to him to honor him. We are to freely give up things (the cares of this life), because the reward of God has a greater and has everlasting value. This life should be holy – dedicated to God. Doing so is acceptable to God. More importantly, it is considered our reasonable service.
It is reasonable because of all God has sacrificed for us. He paid a ransom for us – something we can never repay. And he did this while we were all still deep in sin. We were so blinded by our sin that we could not even understand we needed to be delivered and set free.
So I challenge you to take a good look at your life. Ask yourself is your life a living sacrifice? Is your life holy? Is it acceptable to God?
If you can answer yes, then you are doing well. Keep fighting the good fight of faith.
If your answer is no, or you are unsure, then it is time to repent – ask God for forgiveness. Then re-dedicate your life to him. Make conscious choices each day to spend time with God. Personal devotion time (prayer, praise, and worship), study the word of God and seek to apply that word to your life. Then find your place in him – exercise the gifts and calling that God has invested in you. Do the work.
Live that sacrificed life. Blessings and your reward await you.
“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.“
The difference between being stuck and moving on (elevation) is growth. We understand that the level we are on can no longer contain or satisfy us so we begin to feel that sense of being stuck or stagnant. We feel the pull to do more or make moves. But for some reason we don’t. Instead we obsessively think about where we are, how we are failing God, and wasting precious time.
Most of the time we tend to over think and over analyze things in an effort to determine the “why” of things. Why did I do that? Why did I say that? Why can’t I overcome this? Why can’t I make changes? But most of the time we need to follow the Nike slogan and “just do it.” The “why” of things is usually revealed once obsession with it ceases.
This type of thinking is a vicious cycle. You can remain here for a long time. The feeling of dissatisfaction can lead you down a rabbit hole and you can find your self moving in a wrong direction. But God can break every chain. Especially chains of your mind. Hebrews 4:12 tells us that word of God is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Think on the word and allow it to motivate you!
It’s time to grow – grow up!
Make a conscious choice to stop analyzing and focus on doing. Just give it a try. I guarantee the feeling of “stuck” and dissatisfaction will go away. But you must be consistent. Consistency = growth. You must consistently “just do it” for there is no room for lazy soldiers in this army. You cannot be consistent and “stuck in your mind” at the same time. You have to choose one way to be.
Grow up and choose to be free, be consistent. Put away the things you used to do before you had some growth and never go back to it. You have experience now, you know where that old thinking and that old behavior lead you to. Move on and embrace the growth you gain by doing.
Take steps: research, study, learn, write, give, just do it! You will find inspiration that will keep you moving forward in the right direction.
Onward To Perfection.com 