Unwarranted

Unwarranted

Revelation 6: ³ Then the Lamb broke open the second seal; and I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” ⁴ Another horse came out, a red one. Its rider was given the power to bring war on the earth, so that people should kill each other. He was given a large sword.

 

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Walking down the hall after practice, I was met with a fist in the chest. I saw stars and in a dizzy state fell against the lockers. Tired of bullies, I wanted to get “big.” I lifted weights and became stronger. One guy at the gym who was bigger than me wanted to go to a bar to pick on people. “No thanks” I replied.

 

• I thought that fighting was a good idea until I was invited to do the bullying.
• I thought that I needed to be prepared for battle, so I wanted to get my defenses up.
• I thought that if someone was combative, I needed to be combative to “win.”

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, heard the second living creature say “Come!” after the second seal of Satan’s sentence scroll was opened. A spirit of combativeness was unleashed, causing people to fight and to kill one another. This is the second step in tearing down Satan’s kingdom.

 

My Observations:

• GOD showed us how HE would take down Satan’s kingdom by using unwarranted fights.
• War can easily happen when the heart is ready to fight.
• Destruction is the solution of war.

 

Fighting stinks and unwarranted fighting stinks more. I mean, whether passive or aggressive, attacks, combat and war only ends up in destruction. No one wins. BUT GOD has a remedy. JESUS.

 

Every human is capable of war because there is a war inside us. At times we fight against GOD by trying to get our own way and other we side with HIM by trying to get HIS way. Fortunately for us HIS will, will be done.

 

Challenge

• What is the tone of the writer?
• Have you ever been so frustrated that your only way out is to fight?
• Will you mimic JESUS and drop your defenses by adding love as your weapon today?

Reputation

Reputation

Philippians 1: ²⁷ Now, the important thing is that your way of life should be as the gospel of Christ requires, so that, whether or not I am able to go and see you, I will hear that you are standing firm with one common purpose and that with only one desire you are fighting together for the faith of the gospel. 

 

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Trying to fit in was not easy. It seemed like the “in” crowd had a mysterious criteria that I never could meet. I decided to do what “they” were doing so I could be accepted. Maybe I could get a “good” reputation by being in the right crowd..

 

• I wanted to be known by association.
• I wanted to be part of a group who other people admired.
• I wanted to be seen as I saw other people.

 

Paul wanted to see the people he wrote to. He knew everyone would act “nice”  in his presence, but what about when he was not there? He gives everyone instructions to live “as the Gospel requires” whether he was there or not.

 

My Observations

• Character is what GOD looks at in me.
• GOD sees what I do when I am alone, or in a crowd.
• My heart will shape my reputation.

 

“Standing firm” and “fighting together for the faith of the gospel” are two important elements of a reputation GOD wants me to have. I mean, the “in” crowd may have a reputation that is counter to the faith in CHRIST at times and other times it aligns with it. This wavering is not “firm.”

 

Each day the world throws another challenge that faith in GOD could easily solve. Unfortunately, reputations become more important than serving HIM and praising HIM in public. GOD wants my reputation to be aligned with HIS so others may know I serve HIM. I am glad to give up a popular reputation and to be known as a servant of GOD.

 

Challenge

• What is the way of life the writer is speaking of?
• Have you ever heard “your reputation proceeds you?”
• What kind of reputation would you like to have?
• Will you serve CHRIST sincerely so others may know HIM through you today?

Glue of Peace

Glue of Peace

Ephesians 4: ³ Do your best to preserve the unity which the Spirit gives by means of the peace that binds you together. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as there is one hope to which God has called you. ⁵ There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ there is one God and Father of all people, who is Lord of all, works through all, and is in all.

 

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Seeking to “win”, we met as a team. One group was doing things different than the way we expected. We met to counter what they were doing and came up with a plan. None of us slept well when that plan failed. We were tired of the battle.

 

• I thought “I” could be right as long as I was on the winning side.
• I figured something was “wrong” with them because a group of us saw things a certain way.
• I was ready to “fight” and lost sleep because I was trying to do my part to control other people.

 

Paul urges everyone to “preserve the unity” which is given by the HOLY SPIRIT. He then explains what that looks like, just in case people were seeking a relative truth. He points to the only winning side, namely to follow CHRIST.

 

• There is one body and one SPIRIT and one hope that GOD has called me to.
• There is one LORD, one faith and one baptism to which I base my life.
• There is one GOD and FATHER of all people who is LORD of all, works through all and is in all, even a sinner like me.

 

Peace is what the HOLY SPIRIT uses to bind all of us together. I mean, when I am at peace, problems seem smaller, aches seem to go away faster and the future seems brighter. But when I feel discontent, people are a problem, circumstances seem to linger forever, I lose sleep and aches and pains nag at me.

 

Discontent seems to be the enemy of peace. This can breed in me the feeling that I need to fight or control or “lose.” BUT GOD wants me bound together with HIS family. HE knows how messy my life can be and wants me to have peace anyway so I can be unified with other messy people. I am glad GOD gives me “one” path

 

Challenge

• What “unity” is the writer speaking of?
• Have you ever looked at other people as being the cause of your problems?
• What accountability is GOD calling you to?
• Will you take “blame” or “discontent” or “rage” from your first actions and replace it with “unity” by means of “peace” from the HOLY SPIRIT today?