At Least Try

At Least Try

Hebrews 12: ¹⁴ Try to be at peace with everyone, and try to live a holy life, because no one will see the Lord without it. ¹⁵ Guard against turning back from the grace of God. Let no one become like a bitter plant that grows up and causes many troubles with its poison. ¹⁶ Let no one become immoral or unspiritual like Esau, who for a single meal sold his rights as the older son. ¹⁷ Afterward, you know, he wanted to receive his father's blessing; but he was turned back, because he could not find any way to change what he had done, even though in tears he looked for it.

 

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Sitting in my apartment, I wondered if anything would go my way. I recalled my past gaffs and I didn’t see how my future could get any better. I went to the mailbox and picked up the bills that left me broke as usual. I wasn’t dating and I did not know many people in the town I lived in. “Sigh” I said.

 

• I felt like giving up.
• I felt like nothing would change.
• I wondered if I should return to GOD because at that time I thought I had left HIM.

 

Paul, the assumed writer, continues to give sage advice. “Try” was his challenge to those who may have felt like giving up. He knew many people would run into those who like to fight and quarrel. He also knew firsthand, the effects of causing strife in other people’s lives because he was once on a religious quest to murder those who “he” thought were not following GOD.

 

My Observations:

• Sometimes GOD does not seem like the right answer to me, but when I have tried HIM, HE has never disappointed me.
• Prayer sometimes seems like a pitiful action, BUT GOD loves when I turn to HIM.
• Letting go of some of the world’s ways seems like I would become strange, BUT GOD wants me to not “turn back” to things that are harmful to me or other people.

 

Following GOD can seem hard sometimes. I mean, what about people who are mean and nasty and hateful towards me? Am I supposed to just get beat up passively or physically? No! BUT GOD wants me to refrain from initiating fights, or living immorally or ignoring how much the HOLY SPIRIT really does for me every day.

 

GOD doesn’t make the relationship with HIM difficult, I do. I want HIM to act a certain way, meanwhile HE nudges me to act the way HE wants me to. HE guides me away from harmful things and leads me to a place of blessing. I am glad GOD doe not give me my way all the time and guide me to HIS way.

 

Challenge

• How does the writer imply “surrendering” things in your life to have a solid relationship with the LORD?
• Are there areas of your life that seem overwhelming and you are trying to use the world’s tactics to solve them?
• Will you try to be at peace with those who fight you and try to turn away from habits that may not be good for you and try to let go of bitterness that poisons you and others today?

Something to Strive For

 

Something to Strive For

1 Timothy 6: ¹¹ But you, man of God, avoid all these things. Strive for righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. ¹² Run your best in the race of faith, and win eternal life for yourself; for it was to this life that God called you when you firmly professed your faith before many witnesses. 

 

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Not fitting got old. I wanted to try what ”everyone else” was doing. I tried dating a lot, seeking the best grades, wealth and pleasure. All of these came up empty. I wanted to be noticed, so I made stuff up to look more exciting.  “Why can’t I be like ‘that’ person? I said with jealousy!.

 

• I wanted to be someone else.
• I got tired of being measured and coming up as average or worse.
• I considered how people became successful and I wanted to do “anything” to do so, even if it meant being immoral.

 

Paul gives Timothy another word of encouragement. He provides Timothy with a list of great behaviors that model what JESUS stands for. He urges Timothy to keep going with his faith because he professed it publicly and people would expect him to follow GOD without wavering.

 

My Observations

• I may not have it all together, but GOD gives me something to strive for.
• I may not be perfect, BUT GOD shows me what I can try to become.
• I may want to give up, or fall down, BUT GOD gives me a foundation to always come back to.

 

Sin stinks! I mean, because of my sin nature, I may think less of GOD and more of self. I may seek what I want, when I want it without regard to what GOD wants. BUT GOD understands.

 

HE picks me up and says “You can do this.” He showed me HIS righteousness, Godliness, faithfulness, love, everlasting endurance and premium gentleness. When I compare myself to HIM I think, “impossible.” BUT HE only says “strive” for it. Even when I get it wrong, HE is pleased because I am trying. I am glad GOD is pleased firmly with my attempts.

 

Challenge

• What does the writer stress striving for?
• Have you ever wanted something and worked hard to get it?
• Will you strive for a life that is pleasing to GOD by serving others and learning about HIM today?

One Voice

 One Voice

Romans 15: 4 Everything written in the Scriptures was written to teach us, in order that we might have hope through the patience and encouragement which the Scriptures give us. 5 And may God, the source of patience and encouragement, enable you to have the same point of view among yourselves by following the example of Christ Jesus, 6 so that all of you together may praise with one voice the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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“What happened?” the person in authority said to us. Wanting to remain innocent, I omitted why I was part of the situation and gave only the facts that made the “real” culprit look bad. Our stories, however, did not align very well. The person in authority could easily see that something was not quite right with what we were saying.

• There have been times when I tried to speak with one voice, but left out important facts.
• There have been times when I tried to present “my” side of “our” story.
• There have been times when I tried to protect myself with “my” point of view.

Paul points to the Scriptures as the primary point of truth for hope, patience and encouragement. But there is a twist to the use of the Scripture. It is to being about the way to follow the example of CHRIST JESUS so “we” could have the same point of view.

• GOD wants me to see other people when I read HIS word.
• GOD wants me to seek unity with people through CHRIST versus getting my way.
• GOD wants me to follow the example of CHRIST so I can praise the FATHER with one voice among many people.

Unity through the example of JESUS is all the FATHER wants. HE is the source of patience and encouragement and HE gave HIS creation a way to hear HIM daily through the Scriptures. In its purest form, the Scripture gives hope through patience and encouragement.

There is no multi-sided road to the FATHER. HE wants all humans to speak about JESUS as the Savior of the world, with one voice. I gladly surrender “my” point of view to speak about JESUS, praising GOD the FATHER because of HIM.

• Are you trying to speak on your behalf?
• Do you want a group of followers?
• Will you surrender your quest to have people follow you and begin speaking about JESUS so you can align the message to one voice GOD wants all to have today?

Stay Awhile

Stay Awhile

Acts 14: At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. ² But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. ³ So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders. ⁴ The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. ⁵ There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. ⁶ But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, ⁷ where they continued to preach the gospel.

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After mailing in a dollar’s worth of coins and box tops from cereal, I was on my way to elation. Weeks later a box came to the house with my name on it. The “free” kite had arrived. I had never flown a kite and didn’t know how. I put it together and went outside.

I ran with the kite behind me, but it would not fly. “Here, let me show you” a neighbor said. He stayed with me until I understood how to fly a kite on my own.

• Many people have stayed with me until I learned.
• Many people have been patient with me until I understood.
• Many people have had the courage to help me when I struggled with something.

Paul and Barnabas spoke to everyone they could in another town. Many believed, but there were those who poisoned the minds others, causing confusion. Paul and Barnabas stayed a considerable time, teaching and preaching. GOD saw this and enabled them to perform many signs and wonders.

• GOD wants me to stay with people until they understand HIM.
• GOD wants me to stay with people until they can seek HIM on their own.
• GOD wants me to stay with people until they see HIS message of grace.

Staying with people takes time and effort. Unfortunately, the pressures of life pull me away from staying with those who really need the time. BUT GOD wants me to make time. HE wants me to slow down for a moment and explain HIS love.

Since I am no expert on GOD, HE wants me to simply share what HE has done for me. I am glad HE has forgiven me for all my sins, even the one’s that are done over and over.

• Are you spending time growing people for GOD?
• Do you see someone struggling who needs to hear HIS grace?
• Will you slow down and speak to that person about GOD’s amazing love today?

Unity Ingredients

Luke 10: ¹⁶ Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven. ¹⁷ But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.¹⁸ If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub. ¹⁹ And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. ²⁰ But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. ²¹ When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. ²² But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils. ²³ He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

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“I don’t like that music” I said to myself so I avoided gatherings that played certain types of music and gravitated to what “I” liked. “I don’t like that food” I said again to myself so I would travel to places to get something “I” like to eat. I wasn’t avoiding people. I mean “I” just like what I like.

• There have been times when I sought “my” space.
• There have been times when I wanted what “I” wanted.
• There have been times when I sought crowds that liked what “I” liked.

The crowd saw JESUS cast out demons and healing mute people but they still called HIM “the devil.” JESUS explains that it does not make sense to heal someone if HE were trying to ruin the person. The premise of the kingdom would fall. HE then explains that HIS kingdom requires unity.

• GOD wants me to seek HIS kingdom by seeking unity.
• GOD wants me to be “with” people instead of criticizing the differences.
• GOD wants me to bring people to HIM which may require me to like more things than I am used to.

Unity is hard when I am selfish. I lose my patience and ask “What about me?” I mean why don’t “they” want to unite with “me?” BUT GOD sees through that and builds me up to mess up and try again. Unity requires patience for which I sometimes have little. It requires variety, encouragement and plans to prosper those who do not look or act like me.

Giving myself away for others is a sacrifice GOD helps me with daily. In my mind “they” may be selfish or even rotten. BUT GOD sees them as wonderful. GOD wants me to be “with” the selfish and rotten to show HIS grace to a variety of people who do not deserve it. Maybe in the rotten selfish crowd, there may be someone who can even reach a rotten selfish person like me.

• Are you divisive?
• Do you spread unity or poison to “your” crowd?
• Are you so focused on “winning” that you side with people quickly?
• Will you stop trying to “win” and seek the unity that GOD wants you to have today?

Saying it plainly

Mark 10: Then He arose from there and came to the region of Judea by the other side of the Jordan. And multitudes gathered to Him again, and as He was accustomed, He taught them again.

² The Pharisees came and asked Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” testing Him.

³ And He answered and said to them, “What did Moses command you?”

⁴ They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismiss her.”

⁵ And Jesus answered and said to them, “Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. ⁶ But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’ ⁷ ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, ⁸ and the two shall become one flesh’;  so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. ⁹ Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

¹⁰ In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the same matter. ¹¹ So He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. ¹² And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

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“How did you socialize?” I said to the person. “I didn’t” was their response. My plan did not work. What I really wanted was permission to go to a party but was afraid to ask.

• There were times when I wanted something in my heart, but could not express them.
• There were times when I was afraid to say what I was really thinking.
• There were times when I desired something but could not say what I desired.

JESUS saw through everyone’s desires as they discussed divorce. HE knew the Pharisees and the disciples were looking at the law as an escape clause in order to fulfill their lusts. HE told them the law but they still questioned it. HE made it plain.

• JESUS says to me “Leave your parents and become one flesh.”
• JESUS says to me “I have put married people together for MY purpose.”
• JESUS says to me “Do not dream up reasons for divorce because I will classify it as an act of adultery.”

Seeing through lust filled plots is what GOD can do best. HE sees through my sordid plans and lets me know I should not continue down that path. HE speaks to me plainly so I can hear HIS words.

• Are you trying to twist your words because you are trying to create your own version of the truth?
• Are you amassing evidence for your version of the truth?
• Can you drop the hardness of your heart and find a place of peace where GOD wants you to dwell?