Impactful Change

Impactful Change

2 Timothy 2: ²⁰ In a large house there are dishes and bowls of all kinds: some are made of silver and gold, others of wood and clay; some are for special occasions, others for ordinary use. ²¹ Those who make themselves clean from all those evil things, will be used for special purposes, because they are dedicated and useful to their Master, ready to be used for every good deed. 

 

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Living in a “just enough” fashion had become the norm for me. I felt stuck doing insignificant dead end things. Something had to change, but what. I prayed for GOD to change my circumstances, but nothing was happening.

 

• I wanted GOD to raise me up, but I was not willing to make a change.
• I wanted circumstances to be different without me needing to do anything about it.
• I wanted life to be easy without having to make any sacrifices.

 

Paul gives Timothy some very wise advice. He told Timothy to live a clean life that is dedicated to the LORD, this way he could be used in a special way. Paul had made a significant change in his own life from being a murderer to becoming a preacher of the Gospel and knew what it took to serve the LORD in a
special” way.

 

My Observations

• Yes, I am saved, but my relationship with the LORD is ordinary unless I dedicate myself to HIM.
• Yes, GOD loves me, but there is a part of our relationship that I can choose so HE can use me in a special way.
• Yes, I have a purpose, BUT GOD wants to give me a “special” purpose which requires another level of dedication to following HIM.

 

Change happened when I accepted JESUS as my Savior. I mean, I believed HE forgave me of all my sins. That felt great, but that happened a long, long time ago. HE, however wants me to continue to change for HIS powerful purposes. This requires me to examine my life and ask HIM to rid me of sins that block HIS “special” use.

 

GOD wants “impactful change” from me. Not just ordinary going to church change, but a readiness to be used in a special way. This requires me to ask HIM to help me rid myself of “evil things” so I can be ready for “every good deed.” I will make myself available to GOD.

 

Challenge

• What “special purposes” is the writer speaking of?
• Have you ever wanted things to change in a greater way, but have not looked at yourself to see what needs to change?
• Will you know that you are saved AND GOD wants to use you for something special, but it will take a change in you so you can be used by GOD in a “special purpose” today?

Something from Nothing

Something from Nothing

Galatians 6: ³ If you think you are something when you really are nothing, you are only deceiving yourself. ⁴ You should each judge your own conduct. If it is good, then you can be proud of what you yourself have done, without having to compare it with what someone else has done. ⁵ For each of you have to carry your own load.

 

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When I got the title I was looking for, I thought I was “something.” I watched those who carried their titles “well” and I sought to be like them. I modeled their purchases, habits and speech patterns. One day, I no longer had that “title.” What was I going to do?

 

• I felt I was a nobody.
• I had wrapped my esteem in things I could compare to other people.
• I secretly missed the clout and recognition for achievement.

 

Paul gives a stern warning about thinking you are “something.” This form of pride is based on comparison to others and needing other people to “affirm” actions. He provides a remedy, “carry your own load.”

 

My Observations

• There is one being I should compare my life to, namely JESUS.
• When I compare my sinful life to JESUS, I quickly see that I am nothing.
• GOD knows HE can use me especially when I do not think more highly of myself.

 

Liking myself was difficult because I thought I had to achieve titles and acquire things to be recognized by others as “something.” BUT GOD scoffed at my titles and achievements because HE is the MOST HIGH. I was busy comparing myself to my coworkers and sometimes taking shots at them to make myself look good.

 

GOD loves when I recognize I am nothing without HIM. HE opens my eyes to be thankful for what HE has done and where HE has placed me. I can then see that HE values me without titles or stuff. I am grateful GOD can love me just as I am. HE made me something from nothing.

 

Challenge

• What two types of pride do you see in this passage?
• How can you tell if you are doing “good conduct?”
• If you compare yourself to others, will you accept the fact that GOD loves you without titles or achievements, so you can carry your own load to serve HIM today?

Choice to Live For

Choice to Live For

2 Corinthians 5: ¹¹ We know what it means to fear the Lord, and so we try to persuade others. God knows us completely, and I hope that in your hearts you know me as well. ¹² We are not trying again to recommend ourselves to you; rather, we are trying to give you a good reason to be proud of us, so that you will be able to answer those who boast about people's appearance and not about their character. ¹³ Are we really insane? It is for God's sake. Or are we sane? Then it is for your sake. ¹⁴ We are ruled by the love of Christ, now that we recognize that one man died for everyone, which means that they all share in his death. ¹⁵ He died for all, so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but only for him who died and was raised to life for their sake.

 

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“We may lose the account” were the words that sparked my effort. I stayed at work for 36 hours, trying to finish the proposal for new work. The effort was wasted as the client had already made an agreement with some other firm.

 

• I lived to work and worked to live.
• I used all of my waking hours working or thinking about work.
• I was on a cycle of working to take vacations, buy stuff and live it up, so I needed to work hard.

 

Paul speaks of a choice to live for. In this passage he spoke about people who were wealthy enough to focus on their appearance. But they were not concerned about their character. He tried to persuade everyone to “fear the LORD.” Why? Because HE died and was raised to life.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to live for only JESUS.
• GOD wants me to see everyone around me as HIS possession.
• GOD wants me to seek those who are actively rejecting HIM because JESUS died and was raised from the dead for all who believe.

 

It’s alright to work, buy nice things and go on vacations. But sometimes the “it’s alright” thought pattern leaves no room for GOD. I mean, it was alright to work hard, but never at the detriment of seeing people who need to hear the message of the “love of CHRIST.”

 

“It’s alright” can sometimes blind me to actually living for JESUS. It takes surrender to reduce the “It’s alright” enough to see what GOD wants me to do and say and “be.” Sometimes the battle is against comfort rather than the obvious things humans label as evil. I am glad the HOLY SPIRIT is patient with me and guides me little by little to live for HIM.

 

Challenge

• What do you recognize in the writers words?
• Have you ever assessed the conflict of living in comfort versus reducing some comforts to help others?
• Is there anything you can surrender that is “alright” to do so you can focus more on living for JESUS?
• What does it look like to live for CHRIST more and more each day?

Meanwhile

Meanwhile

John 11: ⁵³ Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. ⁵⁴ Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples.

⁵⁵ And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. ⁵⁶ Then they sought Jesus, and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, “What do you think—that He will not come to the feast?” ⁵⁷ Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command, that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him.

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After observing what everyone was doing, I could see the flaws. I quickly assessed what to do and began to tell them the corrections. When things were going as “I” expected, I took a break. Someone came to me with “suggestions” on how I could have handled things better. I did not notice “my” mistakes.

• There have been times when I wanted to see people act like me.
• There have been times when I desired to see the results of what “I” told people.
• There have been times when I paid so much attention to what other people were doing, that I forgot to do the things I was supposed to be doing.

The church leaders had taken their hatred of JESUS to the final level. They banded together to kill HIM using legal technicalities of the Bible. They spent their time, in which they should have been preparing for the Passover, spying for JESUS in a quest for murder. Meanwhile, JESUS prepared to save the world.

• GOD wants me to focus on HIS love every day.
• GOD wants me to sing praises to HIM every day.
• GOD wants me to tell people about JESUS every day.

When I sing, praise and speak highly about JESUS, there is no room for hatred in my heart. Unfortunately, it holds true for the opposite. When I try to control others, or get mad at them easily or speak slanderous words, I am not filled with GOD’s SPIRIT and am acting on my own.

GOD wants me to bring people to HIM and let go of them. I can only run one life, which is mine, and most times I do not do that very well. BUT GOD forgives me and I am delighted to tell others HE can do the same for them.

• Are you busy thinking what someone else should be doing?
• Do you easily see the flaws in others and not yourself?
• Will you take a step back and allow GOD to grown them and you in HIS own way today?