Safetypinlove

This quote from Spurgeon is easy to agree with, but hard to do in the world today. We want to fit in and be part of the crowd, but sometimes what the crowd is doing goes completely against God’s Word…and that’s when we must make that lonely decision to as Jesus said in Matthew 4:10, “Serve God only.” For if we think about it, as Believers, our true worship and service belongs to God. And our lifestyle should then be one of obedience, reverence, and allegiance to Him…with our faithfulness rejecting any form of idolatry. Consequently, in Ephesians 6:7, the Apostle Paul reminded all Believers, (ourselves included) that our ultimate accountability is to God… not to the crowd, and not to the world.

There will be people in your life that will never understand your Christian walk. They shake their head at the concept of II Corinthians 6:17 that calls Believers to a decisive separation from the world and its sin…and to instead live a holy life that reflects God’s character. So stop defending yourself and explaining your story. Instead, carry your story with dignity, embrace your calling, live differently, and fulfill your one-in-a-kind role in God’s magnificent plan and purpose for your life. For Ephesians 2:10 reminds us that we are created for a special purpose…God’s workmanship and unique creation. Those people may never understand…but they will still be watching you and your walk…and God can use your testimony for His glory.

The Church doesn’t need outside discord when conflict among the brethren can threaten the very fabric of the Church. Here Paul likens their conflicts, hostility, and envy to wild animals fighting…rather than brothers and sisters in the Lord. Instead of loving and serving one another, Paul had witnessed them engaging in harmful words and actions, which led to the utter destruction of relationships, which in turn then led to the very unity and mission of the Church being threatened. So how can the Church of today heed Paul’s warnings? The first is to remember that gossip is no small sin, and it can destroy a person’s character with mere words. Secondly, Church is not a competition… thus jealously, envy, and resentment have no place within the pews. Finally, we as the Church Body need to be very spiritually aware of any brewing hostility…instead decisively choosing love, patience, and mutual edification one for another….for simmering division in the Church will only lead to disunity and strife in the long run.

God will evaluate all of man’s deeds…His divine judgment and accountability of every thought and deed will be brought to light. …and all things done for selfish gain will be prompted to come to the forefront. Job 34:21-22 tells us that God’s eyes are on the ways of men…and that He sees their every step, for no darkness or hiding place can be concealed from His sight. So our response must be as Psalm 19:12 says, “Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant from willful sins.” So in a nutshell, we must act righteously in both public and private sectors…and openly use self-reflection, integrity, and transparency to guide our life.

In II Corinthians 6:4-5, the Apostle Paul contrasted true service to the Lord to the false teachers who actually shunned and scorned suffering of any sort. He then highlighted the reality of the Gospel Message and Christian Ministry…that serving God often involves facing severe challenges, hardships, and adversities. Paul encouraged them that their faithful perseverance in the midst of difficulties demonstrated their true servanthood and dedication to the Lord. And that hardships were part of their spiritual growth. So then we also must remain committed to our calling…trusting that God will honor our patience by strengthen our character and witness.

It’s only when we turn to Jesus and let His voice drown out the noise of the world and every other influence, that we can gain an understanding of what’s truly important. This goes back to the illustration Jesus gave in John 10:3-5 of the sheep following only the voice of the shepherd they knew. We understand that the world’s clamor is loud and confusing…and easily distracts us from the truth. So recognizing and responding to His voice needs to become a daily and necessary action. The world’s deafening roar will sadly only get worse…with the sound of panic and frenzy reaching a fevered pitch…but it’s only the calming voice of our Shepherd that will cut through it all with the truth.

Faith, hope, and joy is ours as a Believer. And as we patiently wait on the Lord, our trust grows and our faith perseveres. Psalm 145:19 encourages us that God’s favor is afforded to those who fear Him… as He attentively listens and fulfills our desires. For God is the source and initiator of our salvation, (Isaiah 12:2-3) and the certainty of this can only bring joy to our souls and remove sorrow and anxiety. For as we trust in Him, we will find the strength to persevere.

Only the disciple Luke accounts the shameful disputes, not just once, but twice, of the disciples arguing amongst themselves of who was the greatest. Earlier in Luke 9:46-48, they quibbled over their places of preeminence, honor, and status…(which in Jewish society was very important.) So when Jesus confronted them over their prideful hearts, He used a very unusual example to show servanthood. Jesus gathered a tiny child up in His arms, (who was typically considered unimportant in society) and reprimanded the group with these words, “For he who is least among you all- he is the greatest.”…showing them that their rivalry was far from truly understanding the servant’s mission He had been teaching. Which still sadly lasts today as divine ideals collide with our flawed human nature and desire for attention & honor.

Our lot and heritage are from a providential and generous God. As Psalm 16:5 tells us, Our life is a gift from God…for He is our source, and in Him alone we will find our delight and joy. We can also take comfort in the very familiar Psalm 23:5… encouraging us that our cup overflows with God’s abundance and favor…as He alone sustains, protects, and secures our future.

Revelation 22:13 is clear, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Or as Hebrews 12:2 puts it, Jesus not only starts the story of our life but writes its perfect conclusion. That’s because He is the Lord of all…past, present, and future, and exists outside of time…encompassing all creation from its inception to its conclusion. And so in the end, the Lord promises that our story will culminate exactly as He wills. (Colossians 1:16-17)