by David Brenneman
Life Principle #2, "Obey God and leave the consequences to Him." Dr. Charles Stanley
"so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober." 1 Thessalonians 5:6.
"The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer." 1 Peter 4:7.
“Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come." Mark 13:33.
"Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;" Colossians 4:2.
"Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed." Romans 13:11.
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6.
“Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalms 46:10.
Our daily lives ought to reflect the walk we have with Jesus every single day. Our actions more than our words should shape our world into what it is that God's wanting rather than what we want.
Every day you're given something to do that has every potential to bring glory to God in Christ Jesus.
It's only through our obedience, whether we understand it or not, that God will be glorified.
Even if and especially if we don't understand what it could possibly benefit ourselves or others.
With very good reason we ought to strive to stand firm in our obedience because of what we read in those other selected passages. We don't know what day or hour that Jesus is going to come back.
We also shouldn't be anxious about obeying. If God's the one leading us to something then He's going to lead us through that something.
I can and will testify to many many days of the 10 months of being unemployed that my prayers turned towards: "Ok. What do you have for me to be doing today Lord?".
It was everything from household chores to helping people to fixing things here and elsewhere.
To me it was living out "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." Proverbs 3:5-6. It also was living out my life verses "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." Colossians 3:23-24.
Will Jesus find in you a willing man or willing woman to do His will in the life He gave you?
Will you be found as one who turned aside from obedience because of what your physical eyes saw or that you understood rather than what your spiritual eyes ought to have seen and your obedience should have completed?
Jesus is returning just as assuredly as His resurrection was true 2,000 plus years ago.
Paul encouraged all the churches to keep that in mind as they went through their lives.
What he wrote to the Thessalonians he said to read to all the churches.
Live your life as if today were that day. So what that there's apparently difficult things ahead of you. Jesus is already there. Jesus promised to never leave us or forsake us. Again I have 10 months of testimony on top of prior to that testimony on Jesus always being ahead of my situations...and He will be ahead of yours.
Be found by Jesus to be doers of the word of God. Be found by Jesus obeying in all that He commanded us. Even if what He's commanding isn't making any sense at all.
Many in the Bible didn't think that what they were told to do made sense but they obeyed anyway and God received the glory. That's where this life principle comes from.
I am now going down a new path for me employment-wise. I am being taught many new things. I pray ahead of time to have God's wisdom and understanding of what's being taught. Through Jesus I can learn these things. It's on me to obey even if I don't get it yet.
To God be the glory great things He has done.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.
A corporation not for profit.
La Habra, CA All rights reserved
No comments:
Post a Comment