By David Brenneman
I wss sitting here pondering just what gets my time after sleep, eating, chores, work, are out of the equation. Where does it go? Where do I take me, where do others take me? Where is God in those minutes that make up the rest of the week?
We easily are interested in escaping our world. It's why games and gaming are so popular. It's why YouTube is way more an entertainment enigma than it is instructional. It's why billions per year, regardless of the economic distress, are spent on streaming video and movies seen online or through services. It's why sports is a multi-billion dollar a year industry.
The imagination wasn't intended to be used the way we use it. God had other things in mind for it. It's the by far go to for temptation to arise from.
I am not immune to seeking a timeout from the world. Have really met very few, very very few, who didn't.
1 Timothy 6:6-10 NASB "But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it, either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."
Social media has raised up and redefined the idea of "status". Used to never be as important a word as its become.
Situation comedy has used it as a shtick in punchlines. Our status is sought out by some because of societies importance placed upon it. Ironically those who post what they are feeling or doing often find a lack of communication happening. Unless they post something for the shock n awe impact not much is really said. Although people follow people for whatever reasons.
We are to be Holy as God is Holy. We are to seek godliness. Not as the world defines it in our disposition of our emotions or feelings in a post.
Our identity is wrapped up in who we are in Christ Jesus. Not in the way people do or don't agree with that idea.
We don't need a high from a status update.
We don't need the approval of men rather than of God. Oooo...
Galatians 1:10 NASB "For am I now seeking the favor of people, or of God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ."
John 12:43 NASB "for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God."
What about..."Slaves, obey those who are your human masters in everything, not with eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people, knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For the one who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality." Colossians 3:22-25 NASB.
Slaves in this isn't referring necessarily to the kind we have read of in history books. Essentially in accepting a job you defer your wants and desires for a rate of pay to please the company to which you are employed.
We sometimes are referred to as slaves to Christ Jesus. Deferring our wants and desires and instead living out what He wants of us in our lives.
Where is your heart in service to God? We either willingly serve or unwillingly serve. We either are going to have the right heart attitude or we won't.
We either will give our best or we won't.
A story was told of a soon to be retiring home builder. His boss agreed to his leaving his company after a long and distinguished career with him if only he would help on one last house.
He agreed and got to work as usual. But it decidedly was not his best work. His mind was on getting it done to get on with retirement. His quality suffered. His heart wasn't in it.
To his shock, after this house was completed, and they were doing their walk through, his soon to be former boss hands him the keys to the house. It was a gift to him for his years of service. And now he would have to live in a place that he didn't put his whole heart into.
You and I have but one and only one "well done" to hear and it's not in this life. It's in Heaven after we meet Jesus face-to-face. It's after our lived are reviewed, tested by fire, to see what's of worth that remains.
What did we do for Jesus in the time we were given?
Hate to break it to everyone but it will have nothing to do with sports statistics. Nothing to do with how many of what got built. Nothing to do with anything really man-made. It will be in what you did, how you did and why you did what you did for Jesus and His kingdom.
How you lived for Jesus. Where your heart was in when you did what you did.
Quite often it's a joke but the sad truth, and I am just as guilty, is we would rather mentally check out of our world than interact with people.
The work in the harvest that Jesus said to pray to the Father for help in isn't things of this world. It's in reaching people.
Jesus called the Disciples to be fishers of men. To go to where the fish were biting. To live life in such a way that people saw their good works and glorified their Father in Heaven. To be living life with a Kingdom of God mindset. Even the Disciples asked what about them...they had given up everything to follow Jesus.
"Then Peter responded and said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?” And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms on account of My name, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last; and the last, first." Matthew 19:27-30 NASB.
Where did Jesus point to in regards to "what's in it for me?"? To life after this life. He pointed to the Kingdom. Success, prosperity, even health and wealth were not mentioned as a reward for Godly living. We may be blessed in those ways, we may not. It's our transformed heart that matters. The Bible says He took away our heart of stone and replaced it with a heart of flesh.
Jesus has a purpose for you in this life and its not what you think. It's a life in service to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. It's us living out a life that shows the heart of God to a lost world. To be men and women who are like King David's. A man after God's own heart.
What's in your heart?
What are you using it for?
Are you being intentional in living your life for Jesus as the Disciples did?
Are you following the example of Christ or showing the world who you are instead?
Either people will see you or they will see Jesus. Those are the only two options.
Are you pushing God to get the life you think you deserve or are you living for Jesus in all that you do as the hymn speaks to? Living for Jesus a life that is true. Striving to please Him in all that I do.
Oh Jesus Lord and Master I give myself to thee for thou in thy atonement did give thyself for me. I owe no other Master my heart shall be thy Throne. My life I give hence forth to live...to Christ to thee alone.
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