Your Own Free Will

 

Your Own Free Will

Philemon 1: ¹² I am sending him back to you now, and with him goes my heart. ¹³ I would like to keep him here with me, while I am in prison for the gospel's sake, so that he could help me in your place. ¹⁴ However, I do not want to force you to help me; rather, I would like for you to do it of your own free will. So I will not do anything unless you agree.

 

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Being chosen early for the game on the playground seemed strange to me. I had nothing to offer the team. I had no athletic prowess, broken glasses and a tiny stature. I was not one of the “leftovers” who would not get a chance to play but remained on the team in name only. When I scored, I felt like I could do this more often.

 

• I had nothing to offer, yet I was chosen.
• Even though I was chosen, I did not have to play.
• When I chose to play, I let go of my fears and participated better than I thought.

 

Paul appeals to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus. He had just acknowledged that Onesimus was now “useful” and Paul continues to say how much of a blessing he was. Paul asks Philemon to accept Onesimus from his own free will.

 

My Observations

• Sometimes I think GOD is too harsh because HE has rules and can’t stand sin.
• GOD, on the other hand, is extremely forgiving of me and wants a relationship with me.
• Free will to choose GOD or choose my selfish justifying ways has been given to me so I can experience true love.

 

GOD made it so easy to follow HIM that it is hard to follow HIM. I mean, HE chose me before I was born, but gave me a choice to participate with HIM or not. It is my choice to believe in JESUS and to live for HIM or not.

 

HE put me on HIS team before I was born, but I still have a choice to live for HIM daily. When I choose to live for myself, I bear no fruit for HIM. Conversely, when I choose to live for HIM, I experience love beyond measure. I am glad GOD does not obligate me to serve HIM but wants me to come to HIM with my own free will.

 

Challenge

• What is the heart posture of the writer?
• Have you ever wanted to be chosen for who you are?
• Will you strengthen your relationship with GOD by choosing HIM versus feeling obligated, so you can have a healthy connection with HIM today?

 

Prayer

Dear LORD, please bless this reader to have a healthy relationship with YOU today. Let him or her know YOUR love / yoke is easy and YOUR burden is light. Please show YOUR love to those who choose YOU. amen

No Hidden Agenda

No Hidden Agenda

Titus 1: ⁷ For since a church leader is in charge of God's work, he should be without fault. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered, or a drunkard or violent or greedy for money. ⁸ He must be hospitable and love what is good. He must be self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. ⁹ He must hold firmly to the message which can be trusted and which agrees with the doctrine. In this way he will be able to encourage others with the true teaching and also to show the error of those who are opposed to it.

 

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Wanting to be in power, I complained about the current leadership. I spoke about how badly things were being run with another person. Soon the grousing turned into a few people. I would then slip in a few of “my” solutions to show how things would be better if “I” were in charge.

 

• I wanted power.
• I did not think slander was a problem as long as I was doing it.
• I complained, thinking I knew better.

 

Let me say that many men have misused the bible to hold down women. This passage had cultural influences of males being the primary spokespeople in a church structure. Gender bias was not Paul’s battle so he went with the structure of that day. The suggestions he gives to Titus cross genders and apply to all. “Be” genuine when it comes to speaking about JESUS.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to “be hospitable.”
• GOD wants me to “be self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.”
• GOD wants me to “be trusted and agree with the doctrine” so I can encourage others and correct few.

 

When I have a hidden agenda of being in power, I act differently. I mean I complain about him or her versus praising GOD for what HE Is doing. To “be” in charge of anything, GOD wants to know I can “be” trusted with HIS love for others. This will show in how I treat people.

 

HE wants men and women who are willing to “be” aware of themselves and have the discipline to leave selfishness behind to serve others. I am glad GOD accepts me and you in spite of our sinful nature.

 

Challenge

• What characteristics from the writer sticks out to you?
• Are there some areas in your life that you need GOD to grow you?
• Will you seek growth by GOD by asking for help in areas HE needs to grow you so you can serve HIS Kingdom today?

Being With

Being With

John 17: ²⁴ “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. ²⁵ O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. ²⁶ And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

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Figuring out what was wrong with each person, I found out ways to avoid people. “That person was too mean” and “That person is too snobbish” I said about the “In crowd.” After my evaluation of many people I found myself alone. I mean, they weren’t friendly anyway.

• There were times when I chose not to join the crowd.
• There were times when I looked at the differences in other people as a problem.
• There were times when I separated myself because I could not find anything I had in common with the people around me.

JESUS continues HIS prayer for all who believe in HIM. HE asks the FATHER for HIS followers to be “with” HIM, to see HIM in HIS glory. But what does it mean to be “with” JESUS.

• GOD wants me to want HIM.
• GOD wants me to follow HIS ways, especially when it is difficult.
• GOD wants me to believe in HIM even when people around me do not.

Being “with” GOD means I stand for what HE stands for. HE sent HIS SON to save the world, yet the world turned their eyes away HIM. HE sees the disunity amongst humans and knows the hearts of mankind. HE draws those who truly believe in HIS SON so they can be “with” HIM in agreement. I am with GOD and I look forward to being “with” the SON in all HIS glory, someday.

• Do you agree with the way GOD handles things?
• Do you try make situations perfect so you can be with people?
• Will you allow GOD to change your heart so you can agree with how HE handles situations?
• Will you be “with” GOD today in faith instead of being against HIM with your own plans?