Tuesday, November 1, 2022

Perhaps...You

Perhaps...You
by David Brenneman

Perhaps.  Aside from so much in Jeremiah that was spoken by the Prophet against Jerusalem, against Israel, against Judah...the word perhaps shows up quite a bit.  Perhaps if Jeremiah went to this place and spoke or that place and showed this or that...that the people would repent and turn back to the Lord their God.

The interesting thing is that indeed the Lord Jesus already knew that it wouldn't happen.  So why go through all of it?  For one, the Bible wouldn't be nearly as thick as it is.  We'd not see the lessons of the past in order to not repeat them in the future.

I'm also reading in Titus.  Chapter 2 vs 11 following. "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds."

Have you considered your ways this morning?  Have you thought about what drives you to do what you do?  Are your motives pure from a Godly perspective?
Are you repeating the mistakes of the past in your present?  

Do you think about what Jesus really has in mind for you?  It's not about your ideas of your career.  In Christ we aren't of this world anymore.  We're visitors. We're to be a light in this world, and that light is from Jesus Christ in us.

Perhaps.  

It's an interesting and unique word.  Perhaps.  Why do I write?  I write because I cannot keep silent when I am prompted to write what is written each day.  Why?  Because perhaps something written is what someone needs to read to either come back to Jesus or come to Him in the first place for salvation.  Perhaps it's what someone needs to find.   My hope and prayer is that it indeed helps someone since I do firmly believe that God told me to begin this 1,500 plus posts ago for His purposes.  Perhaps it will.

We all have something to be doing in this life for Jesus, those of us whom are saying we follow Him.  It's not about being successful in the world's eyes.  It's about being successful in God's eyes.  We're maybe going to be hearing from those in this world about being told 'well done', but we who are in Christ are indeed looking forward to hearing "Well done!" from Jesus.   Seriously, are you looking at all wondering if you will hear anything good at all about your life before Jesus?
We don't know the impact we have for the Kingdom until we decide to DO what it is we're called to do...from the smallest of things to the biggest of things.

In Titus I was struck by the words used..."...instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age".
What does that mean?  What does it mean to you?  Are the things you desire in your life causing you to grow closer to Jesus or farther away?  I guess that's the simplist of things to consider.  Are the things you get fired up about drawing you to fulfill God's Word or is it something worldly and useless?

While it's possible to have fun in this life as the world sees it...fun...sometimes is by way of interpretation...and the world's idea of it...causes emotional pain and scarring.  Proverbs speaks to our need to watch our words.  To be careful of what we do.  The impact goes on for possibly several generations.  

There's been stories of fueds as long as there have been human beings.   Why do many fueds go on for generations?   In most cases the current generation has no idea...only that there is one and there must have been a reason to have one so it must continue.  Nothing logical about the thinking at all.

Perhaps...we come back to this word again.  Perhaps the Lord Jesus is wanting more of you.  Perhaps He's been trying to get you to let go of something in order for Him to DO something in you or through you to impact someone else.  Jeremiah was living a life protected by Jesus but would endure a great many things.  The point was to perhaps get people to change.  To get people to come back to the Lord with a whole heart.

And therein is the thing.  How half-heartedly are you living towards Jesus?  How much of your time, energy and efforts are realistically wasted because they are doing absolutely nothing for the Kingdom of God?  The "Well Done!" we seek from Jesus has nothing to do with our activities that had nothing to do with His work in the lives of people.   It has to do with people.  It has to do with what we've done in obedience to His Word.   

Perhaps today you've been thinking about this.  Someone must be.  I know for me this new life that began nearly a year ago in this house has a new purpose.  I wanted to not waste a second chance that God gave me.  I still am not thinking that I'm 'there yet' as to my greater purpose in this county...and I know in due time it will be revealed.  What I do with this blog is in obedience.  What my workshop and this room are set up for will have a purpose.  That purpose isn't necessarily for us but for whatever will help His Kingdom.  Our home will be open for His Kingdom.  

Perhaps today you've just been thinking that your life isn't as fulfilling as you had hoped it would be.  Believe it or not that's a good step.  Ask Jesus to show you a still better way...as He is to be the one leading in your life, ask Him!  Don't be afraid of what He might ask you to do.  This life is temporary.  The Bible speaks to how like the grass that's green today it's gone tomorrow.   

Perhaps you...just need to get real with your walk with Jesus today.  Perhaps you need to START a relationship with Jesus today.  
Perhaps you just need to know that you're not alone.  Believe me, been there done that many times in my life.  Jonah was in the belly of a whale for 3 days. It was nothing but him and the noises of a whale's insides for 3 days.  No light.  It was just him and Jesus.  Not really different than Daniel in a lion's den.  Nor different than Daniel's friends in a firey furnace.  Jesus was there.  No matter how rough life is...when you come to Christ...Jesus is there.

Perhaps you're seeing just how futile the desires of the world are.  I know in the last few years that's been the case for me.  I often ask for forgiveness when a new 'waste' is shown to me of what I did years ago.  Of how my way wasn't what God wanted for me.  

Life was meant to be enjoyed WITH Jesus.  The happiest days of Adam and Eve's lives were when they were with Jesus as God created them to be.

Look at your life this morning, afternoon, whatever time it is you're reading this.  Perhaps the Spirit is talking to you about things to let go of.  We cannot reclaim the past.  We cannot relive the past.  We waste time in the present trying.  
Perhaps the Spirit is wanting to take you a new direction but you're afraid of what it might mean.  Been there and done that.  A leap of faith is just that.  Trusting in God for the details because we cannot see where our feet are going to go.  Pray about it.  Then if indeed it's God's Will for your sanctification...it will happen.

Perhaps...you...

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