by David Brenneman
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:28-39.
There's much more to life than our own wants and desires. There's much more than also simply wanting our pains and anguish to depart far from us. There's much more than even wanting those that irritate and bother us to the point of considering it torment to leave us in peace.
We who are in Christ have a divinely appointed purpose under Heaven. When we come to Christ we commit ourselves wholeheartedly to Jesus and what He wants for us. We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them. Good works that He prepared for us to be doing. Scripture says that we were bought with a price, the shed blood of Jesus Christ, to walk worthy of our calling in Christ.
We either obey in seeking what it is for us to be doing or we honestly disobey and do not do what we were supposed to be doing.
To this end we must fully understand that we will stand before Jesus to give an account of our lives before Him. The deeds done in our bodies whether considered good or bad in the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Not our considered opinion of what was good or bad.
That's a very very important thing in your consideration of living the Christian life.
Your opinion of what's ok or good needs to be what Jesus said it should be. He, our Great Shepherd, leads and we do what He leads us to do. We go where He says, we do what He directs.
The world is going to try to seduce you away from everything great or small that's for you to be doing in your obedience to God's will for you.
Satan's well versed in seducing people. How to gift wrap a temptation in such a way that until its quite often too late we get ensnared by it.
Our adversary is prowling around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. This is the reality of life.
The enemy of sheep seeks a weakness in the Shepherd's protection of his or her sheep. They prowl around seeking one of them to devour.
What steps are you taking to be sure you're living in step with God's calling for you?
What are you doing that HE says you should be doing?
Are you living out a life acceptable and approved by you or by Jesus through obedience to God's Word and His calling for you?
Satan's methods of devouring aren't always destroying the victim. If they are quite content in their disobedient life from what God desires for them he leaves them alone. They did all the work for him.
First be sure of your salvation. Secondly be sure you are seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness. Be in the Word of God daily. Ask the Spirit to teach you in a way that you understand it. Live out your life in Christ in such a way that people see your good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and spirit. Love your neighbor as yourself.
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.
Always look to your Shepherd before moving on or doing something.
Find your purpose, fulfill your purpose in Christ.
All New American Standard Bible Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. A corporation not for profit.
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