Trying Too Hard

 

Trying Too Hard

Hebrews 8: ⁷ If there had been nothing wrong with the first covenant, there would have been no need for a second one. ⁸ But God finds fault with his people when he says,

“The days are coming, says the Lord,
    when I will draw up a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.
⁹ It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors
    on the day I took them by the hand and led them out of Egypt.
They were not faithful to the covenant I made with them,
    and so I paid no attention to them.
¹⁰ Now, this is the covenant that I will make with the people of Israel
    in the days to come, says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their minds
    and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.
¹¹ None of them will have to teach their friends
    or tell their neighbors,
    ‘Know the Lord.’
For they will all know me,
    from the least to the greatest.
¹² I will forgive their sins
    and will no longer remember their wrongs.”

¹³ By speaking of a new covenant, God has made the first one old; and anything that becomes old and worn out will soon disappear.

 

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“Don’t set your alarm, but ask GOD to wake you up” were the instructions of someone who was well meaning. I tried it and overslept. After this exercise I questioned GOD. “Why didn’t you wake me up?”

 

• I wanted to see if this GOD thing would work.
• I wanted to test whether or not GOD would do “as I say?”
• I wanted to have special powers that I didn’t possess.

 

Paul, the assumed writer, says some remarkable things about what GOD did for humanity. He mentions that GOD took care of the relationship that was broken and lost by a permanent repair through a second covenant.

 

My Observations:

• GOD did not leave anything up to chance when it came to having a relationship with me.
• GOD placed HIS laws in my mind and wrote them on my heart.
• GOD made me “know the LORD” and has forgiven me of my sins and does not remember any wrong I did.

 

It was all GOD! I mean, HE knew that I would not choose HIM, yet HE chose me. HE took it one step further. HE wrote HIS laws in my mind and in my heart. I do not have the responsibility to try to convince someone to “know the LORD.” But this seems confusing. What about the great commission?

 

You and I are part of the “I will.” HE never says how HE will put the laws in the minds of people or how HE will be their GOD. I am glad HE uses people to tell the Good News!

 

Challenge

• What words from the writer are shocking to you?
• Do you feel relieved that you do not have the responsibility of forcing people to accept JESUS?
• Will you simply “be” a follower of JESUS and be ready to explain your relationship with HIM to anyone HE places in front of you today?

 

Seeker Help

Seeker Help

Acts 17: ²⁴ “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. ²⁵ And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. ²⁶ From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. ²⁷ God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ²⁸ ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

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“Ready or not here I come” I exclaimed. We were playing Hide and Go Seek, and I was the person seeking. I saw a pair of legs behind some bushes. I quietly caught the hider. Now I had some help. This was a fun day!

• I enjoyed looking for the hidden.
• I enjoyed seeking those who needed to be found.
• I enjoyed finding those who were hidden and getting some help to find others.

Paul explained that GOD does not live in manmade buildings, nor does HE need humans to ‘do’ anything for HIM. HE gives everyone life, breath and everything. HE did all of this so humans would seek HIM and perhaps reach out to HIM and find HIM. GOD is always easy to find.

• GOD wants me to be thankful for everything HE has given me.
• GOD wants me to be thankful for the life HE breaths through me.
• GOD wants me to be thankful for JESUS who died for me and is alive providing salvation to those who believe in HIM.

When I complain that someone is not doing their part or are not serving enough, I may not be showing GOD enough appreciation. I mean, when I am thankful, praise comes from my lips. I realize how futile my service really is when I try to serve GOD who needs nothing from me or any human.

GOD is complete. I am thankful that HE takes care of everything. My belief in JESUS makes me complete. Since I am thankful for being complete I seek others who have a sense of emptiness only JESUS can fill. I am grateful GOD allows me to seek HIS sheep.

• What are you thankful for?
• Are you seeking inner peace through certain foods, rituals or buildings?
• Will you seek the Living GOD who provides everything you need to seek others who need HIM?

Make it Easy

Make it Easy

Acts 15: ¹⁹ “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. ²⁰ Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. ²¹ For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

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When I was told the position was eliminated, I was shocked then furious. I mean, I had done all this hard work for years. I was told to “transition” everything to my successor. My first thought was “Do it yourself since you don’t need me!”

• There were times when I did not want to make things easy.
• There were times when I felt justified in making things complicated.
• There were times when I wanted to make things difficult on purpose.

James continued speaking about what Barnabas, Paul and Peter had done. They were speaking to other races about the faith. Though common practice was to teach the many laws of Moses, James suggested they make it easy and teach only a couple of rules. The new followers of GOD would be able to find the law in any city.

• GOD wants me to make it easy for people to follow HIM.
• GOD wants me to remove barriers to following HIM.
• GOD wants me to get rid of any false expectations of others when it comes to “them” having a relationship with HIM.

Removing barriers to GOD is not as easy as it seems. I mean, when I say “All you need to do is believe in JESUS as you Savior”, I sometimes make the mistake of giving a bunch of rules to follow. While the rules are good, they become a barrier to the person discovering their own relationship with JESUS.

GOD wants me to make it easy. Here is the rule HE wants me to give everyone. “Love one another.” That is it. There are no other rules to give after believing in JESUS. HE provides that person with the HOLY SPIRIT who guides with the truth. I am glad JESUS took the responsibility for guiding me.

• Are you making it hard for someone to follow GOD?
• Do you have a lot of rules for others when it comes to following GOD?
• Will you stop adding barriers to JESUS and present “belief in HIM” and “love for one another” as the only “to do” today?

One Sided Relationship

One Sided Relationship

John 6: ²⁸ Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”

²⁹ Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

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When I heard the complaint, I started doing an assessment. “Wait a minute” I said to myself. “Didn’t I do all the work?” I mean I looked at all the planning, hard work and late nights I had put into the effort. I even counted every dollar that came out of “my” pocket.

• One sided relationships make me count what “I” am doing.
• One sided relationships make me feel like “I” am being used.
• One sided relationships make me raise “my” expectation that the other person or people should be doing the same.

“What works should we be doing to please GOD?” was the gist of the question the people asked. They had been miraculously fed by JESUS but told not to seek food alone. Immediately their enterprising minds went towards something tangible. They could see and measure “work” so they wanted to be told what to “do” so they could just do it. But GOD had something else in mind.

• GOD wants me to believe that HE took care of all my sins.
• GOD wants me to believe that HE takes care of all my situations.
• GOD wants me to believe that HE is with me every day, especially during the more difficult ones.

Air, water, food, shelter, and clothing all come from GOD. HE gives me talents and creates scenarios for me to use them to bring people to HIM. HE plans, does all the work and spends all that HE has on me. HE loved me so much that HE gave HIS only begotten SON.

Never once does HE say “Wait a minute, I gave you that meal you ate, the car you drove and clothes you are wearing.” HE does say “Love and believe in MY SON.” That’s it. This one sided relationship is totally in my benefit. All I have to do is believe and trust in JESUS. I place my faith in HIM.

• Are you questioning GOD’s love?
• Do you think you need to sin less or do more so you can be closer to GOD?
• Will you stop trying to control GOD and allow HIM to work through you simply by trusting JESUS today?

Small is Large

Matthew 13: ³¹ He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. ³² Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”

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“Go and evangelize the neighborhood” was the overwhelming message I felt. This was very scary because I did not know anyone in the area and some of the neighbors were into some dangerous things. I felt small and did not know where to start.

• Sometimes I feel insignificant.
• Sometimes I feel like I’m facing giants as an ant.
• Sometimes I feel so small that the issues, situations and circumstances seem to be overwhelming.

“What powers do I have?” I mean I’m no one special, am I? Yes!

• GOD does not expect me to be powerful but believe HE is the most powerful.
• GOD does not expect me to be the answer; rather believe HE is the only answer.
• GOD does not expect me to be a savior but believe JESUS is my savior.

Millions of people saved begins with the one person I talk to about the Great News of being rescued by JESUS. I don’t have to “be” special or “do” anything special. HE sends people to me! How much easier can it get?! GOD’s only requirement is that I have the tiniest bit of faith to follow HIS leading.

• Do you feel small?
• Do you feel overwhelmed?
• Can you have the tiniest bit of faith and let GOD handle the rest?

HE found me!

Romans 10: ²⁰ And Isaiah boldly says,

 

   “I was found by those who did not seek me;

   I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.”

 

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Despondent was the feeling I had coming into work that day. After three sets of interviews I soon found out this large company I really wanted to work at was facing its first layoff in their history. “I guess I will be stuck here” I thought to myself.

 

After a couple of weeks I actually felt better and accepted my destiny of living in the small town and working for the company I was trying to leave. Out of the blue I received a phone call. “We have been looking for you” says the recruiter. You mean they were actually looking for me?

 

• In the middle of my troubles I fail to seek GOD.
• In the center of my sin I turn my back on the one who can help, namely GOD.
• In the inception of my doubts I never look towards GOD.

 

Isaiah spoke about JESUS and stated “HE found me when I didn’t seek HIM.” JESUS is constantly looking for those who are open to HIS love.  HE wants those who are rejected, despondent, lonely and in despair.

 

Only HE can repair the heart HE created because HE knows every aspect of my life.  HE knows every thought, every struggle, and every pain. HE revealed HIMSELF to me but I didn’t fully grasp HIS wealth or power. In fact years later I am still trying to understand HIM.

 

• GOD does not seek my perfection because HE is already perfect.
• GOD does not seek my sinless life because HE died after walking the earth sinless.
• GOD does not seek my righteousness because only HE is righteous.

 

JESUS simply wants me. HE loves me and knows me. There is nothing I can hide from HIM. I owe my eternal life to HIM and that’s what makes me bold.

• Do you think your acts of righteousness will get you into heaven?
• Are you judging someone for what they are doing or not doing?
• Are you feeling rejected, lonely or full of despair?
• Can you allow JESUS to repair your heart and stop seeking the wrong things to fill the void?