"Gold Star Mentality"

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works".  2 Timothy 3:16,17 

When I was a child growing up in church, we would get a little gold star each week beside our name on a list if we could quote our memory verse.  As a child it was exciting to see the gold stars filling up the line.  (That was my reason for memorizing the verse-- to get the gold star.) 

 

Unfortunately, many adult "Christians" still have that same mentality.  They read the Bible with a "gold star" mentality.  They think that just because they did their Bible reading for the day that fulfilled their religious duty and met the "requirements".  But that is not the reason why we read God's Word.

 

We read it in order to grow spiritually-- it is "bread" to our spirit.  We read it to renew our minds-- so that we won't be conformed to this world but have the mind of Christ.  We read it to have spiritual insight and understanding-- so that we may know what is good and acceptable and the perfect will of the Lord.  We read it so that we will be equipped to fight spiritual battles-- it is our weapon.  We read it, and hide it in our hearts, to give us power to resist temptation-- so that we will not sin against God.  We read it so that we might be transformed-- transformed into His image. 

 

The word is not supposed to only be read.  It is supposed to be practiced.  It is supposed to be taken to heart.  Jesus said that the truly wise person would read it and do what it says.  In other words, God gave us His Word in order to teach us how to live.  Therefore, it is meant to be lived out, and applied, in our daily lives.

 

Have a great day.  If you only read the Bible so that you can say you have fulfilled your religious duty for the day you are missing the whole point.  You read it so that you can be transformed on the inside to be more like Jesus.    

"Days Like This"

"And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you".  Joel 2:25 

The chorus of an old song says, "Mama said there'd be days like this.  There'll be days like this mama said".  We all have days "like this".  Days when things don't go right.  Days when our bad choices catch up with us.  Days we wish had never happened.  Days of heartache, pain and trouble.  Days when we make mistakes that can't be undone.  Days when we have said and done the wrong thing.  Days that we regret.  But the point is this:  Don't let a "day like this" determine the rest of your life.

 

Many people are letting one "bad day" ruin their whole lives.  They carry the mistake, the guilt, the heartache, the anger, the condemnation, the bitterness, the regret, etc. from that day with them into the next day and the next day and the next day and allow it to ruin their future. 

We can't change the past.  We can't go back and undo some things that happened.  We can't change the consequences, but we can choose to live out the rest of our lives to the fullest regardless and in spite of "that day".  It is a choice.  We can sit down and not move forward, we can wallow in the thing that happened, we can live in it, or we can get up, move on, leave it behind and go on with the business of living. 

 

It is possible.  Turn yourself and "that day" over to the Lord.  He is the One who redeems things.  He is the One who can turn it around for good.  He is the One who can deliver you from the internal wrestling that came as a result of "that day".  He is the One who gives abundant life.  He is the One who gives you hope and a future.  Let Him take "that day" and give you the peace and healing that you need so you can live out the rest of your life fulfilling your destiny.

Have a great day.  We all have "days like this", but don't let them ruin the rest of your life.

 

"It's Two-Sided"

"But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold".  Job 23:10 

When we go through difficulties/trials, there is more than one thing that is going on.  We have an enemy who is out to destroy us through them, and secondly, we have a God who loves us and is perfecting what concerns us.  Often we only look at one side of the trial-- the side that is trying to destroy us.  But remember, what the enemy means for evil God works together for our good.

 

God will cause what you are going through to bring you up into a higher level of faith.  This stumbling block of the enemy can actually be a steppingstone into a higher realm of faith, trust in the Lord and righteous character.  The Lord can use it to purify you and produce the fruit of the Spirit in your life.  He can also use it to deepen your trust in Him because unless you choose to handle it your own way and in your own strength, you will turn to Him and let Him do a deep work within you and work it for your good. 

 

The verse above comes from the Book of Job.  We are all familiar with Job's life and suffering.  After all that Job went through, did it destroy him?  No.  Was that the intent of the enemy?  Yes.  But what happened instead?  At the end of the trial Job not only was twice as wealthy, received twice what he had lost, fathered more children-- some of the most beautiful daughters in the land-- but he gained a greater spiritual understanding of who God was.  His faith level soared.  He knew the Lord in a more personal and intimate way.  He knew that God was for him, working on his behalf and able to turn even the greatest of trials into a blessing--- naturally and spiritually.

 

Take heart.  If you are going through a difficult time.  If all hell seems like it is coming against you.  If you don't think you can take it any longer.  If you feel like you are going to be consumed by it.  Remember this:  there are two sides to your trial.  Let the trial produce in you a deeper level of faith.  Let it cause you to come up higher in your relationship with the Lord.  The greater One is in you than the one who is hurling these fiery darts at you.  You are destined to win as long as you look to Jesus the Author and Finisher of your faith.

 

Have a great day.  Your trial is like a two-sided coin.  One side is meant to destroy you.  The other side is meant to strengthen you spiritually.  Which side are you going to focus on?

 

Scripture reference:  Psalm 138:8; Job 42:10-17; 1 John 4:4; Ephesians 6:16; James 1:3; Romans 8:28 

"A Rose Garden"

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world".  John 16:33

Years ago, there was a popular country song whose words were:  "I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden.  Along with the sunshine, there's got to be a little rain sometimes".  In our relationship with Jesus, He never promised us a "rose garden" type of life.  As we said yesterday, when we come into a relationship with Him, along with that relationship comes tribulation, persecution, self-denial, affliction and suffering.  But if that was all we had to look for, the "worse", it would be a relationship that no one would want to enter into.  

He told us to "count the cost" before entering into it, and in His love for us He let us know just what that cost would be.  He doesn't, won't, never has and never will deceive us by promising us something that it not true.  He warned us of the cost but He didn't leave it there.  While He might not have promised us a "problem free" life, let me tell you what He did promise us.

He promised to never leave us nor forsake us.  He promised to be with us always.  He promised to meet and supply all our need.  He promised to give us strength in weakness; peace in confusion; power to overcome temptation; grace that was sufficient; hope in hopeless situations; freedom; His Word to light our path; His Spirit to guide and comfort us; beauty for ashes; the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; faith to remove mountains; healing and deliverance; power over all the powers of the enemy; wisdom to do what is right; enlightened understanding to know what to do; weapons to destroy the enemy; and His unconditional love to sustain us.  No, He didn't promise us that there would be no problems, but He did promise to be with us through each one.  

Have a great day.  Jesus didn't promise us a rose garden.  (We forget that roses have thorns.)  But He did promise that the sweet fragrance of the relationship would outweigh the pain of the thorns. 

"For Better Or Worse"

"And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me".  Mark 8:34 

All marriages begin with an exchange of vows: for better or worse; richer or poorer; in sickness and in health, etc.  Every couple who stands before one another making such vows stands there all "starry eyed" and so "in love" that they don't really give a whole lot of thought to what they are saying.  They are so "in love" that when they say those words, they don't fully comprehend the meaning of "worse", "poorer" and "sickness".  Then when "worse" happens and the reality of what it means sets in, they start trying to get out of the marriage.

 

People often go into a relationship with the Lord the same way.  Like marriage salvation is a covenant, it involves a vow, it is a relationship and it is meant to last our whole lifetime.   Most people enter it for heaven, for blessings, for the peace Jesus gives, for all the "good things" He bestows on them.  But, like marriage, there is a "worse" part of our relationship that will come.  At that point many give up and turn from Him-- they want a "divorce".    

 

They entered into a relationship with Him because they wanted to go to heaven.  They fell in love with Jesus.  They looked forward to the blessings and good times, but He didn't promise all "good times".  He said we would have tribulations.  He said we would have affliction.  He said that by having a relationship with Him, we would be hated by all men.  We would be rejected, mocked, attacked, persecuted, imprisoned and our own families and friends would turn on us. 

 

In any relationship there is a cost that should be counted.  Every relationship will cost us something.  Every relationship won't always be full of the "better"-- even our relationship with the Lord.  When you enter into it with Him, be aware of the cost and realize too that it is worth it.  "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us". (Romans 8:18)

 

Have a great day.  Every relationship will have a "better" and a "worse"-- even our relationship with Jesus.  But don't quit or turn from it.  It is worth it.