So Do You Ask?

So Do You Ask?
by David Brenneman

"Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; For I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to You I lift up my soul.  Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; I take refuge in You.  Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.  For the sake of Your name, O Lord, revive me. In Your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble.  And in Your lovingkindness, cut off my enemies And destroy all those who afflict my soul, For I am Your servant." Psalms 143:8-12.

Most, while we are in school, long for the days when we are not.  Some with aspirations go on to college or technical schools or maybe even the military or full time Christian ministry.  All of which require more training and years of commitment.

For those who are in Christ...you and I...our schooling never ends and we should both be glad and expectant of what's to come from the Spirit of God who's job is to teach us all things.

Do you incorporate your spiritual training in righteousness into your life?  Do you pick up your textbook to find today's lesson?  Do you talk to your Teacher? 

When we came to Christ for salvation we begin something that will go on throughout our lives and only reach a graduation day when we step into eternity in Heaven with Jesus.

We became His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them. 

Do you know what that means or what those things are for you?

Do you know what kinds of thoughts you should be thinking with regards to spiritual matters that the Spirit lays out before you?

Do you look to taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ Jesus?  It's right there in our textbook, the Bible.

Do you examine what you are told to see if it is so in your textbook, the Bible?

Do you have conversations with your Teacher about what you have read?

What we do in a physical school environment isn't much different than with the Spirit of God.

We may take notes, find similar topics, take even days to go over a subject. 

"Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:1-2.

Do you even understand what seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness means?

Do you know what setting your mind on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world looks like?

Idolatry is everywhere in the world...have you given thought to this passage?  "Little children, guard yourselves from idols." 1 John 5:21.

Jesus spoke of how the Father listened to Him because He always did what was pleasing to the Father.  

Do you strive to do what's pleasing to God? 

Do you look to get rid of the things in your life so that you can be the best you can be as unto the Lord?

Is there anything within you that's looking to hear "Well done My good and faithful servant"?

Set aside time in the morning, time in the evening.  Daniel's life was so personified with his dedication to prayer that everyone knew where to find him 3 times a day. 

Set aside time to spend in prayer outside of meals. 

Give of your best to the Master,
give of the strength of your youth;
throw your soul's fresh, glowing ardor into the battle for truth.
Jesus has set the example-
dauntless was He, young and brave;
give Him your loyal devotion,
give Him the best that you have.

Give of your best to the Master,
give of the strength of your youth;
clad in salvation's full armor,
join in the battle for truth.

Give of your best to the Master,
give HIm first place in your heart;
give Him first place in your service,
consecrate every part.
Give and to you shall be given-
God His beloved Son gave;
give Him your heart's adoration,
give HIm the best that you have.

Give of your best to the Master,
give of the strength of your youth;
clad in salvation's full armor,
join in the battle for truth.
- Give of Your Best to the Master, Howard B Grose.

If we want to stand before Jesus with our lives having been lived pleasing to God we need to put in the efforts to do so.  If we want to run the race, finish the course, as though to win, we need to train.

Take the time to evaluate you as a Student of the Master and see what you need to change in order to strive to only live a life pleasing to God. 

For only what we have done in the body for Jesus Christ is what will survive the fires of Truth. 

"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality." Colossians 3:23-25

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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