Too busy for GOD

Romans 12: ¹ Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

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Peering at my watch, I only had minutes to catch the next plane. I knew I would make it as I had become a business airport sprinter. I passed hundreds of people not seeing one of them. As I sat on the plane I slept until they announced it was alright to turn on electronics.

I broke out my laptop and began working, never seeing the people next to me. All I knew is I was on my way to “that” promotion. Months later I was passed over for the promotion. I wondered why GOD wasn’t speaking to me!

• Ignoring people is like ignoring GOD.
• Ignoring people makes me just like “the world.”
• Ignoring people creates selfishness in me that blocks me from hearing GOD’s will.

Many times I have heard preachers tell me this scripture is about sex and they are absolutely correct but there is more to it. When my body is in close proximity to another body something special is supposed to happen.  I am supposed to listen to orders from the HOLY SPIRIT to see what I am supposed to do.

• Instead of conforming to the world I should listen to GOD and treat people differently.
• Instead of conforming to the world I should sacrifice some “me” time and please GOD.
• Instead of conforming to the world I should pay attention to the mercy GOD has shown me and show mercy to others.

Rejection will come with the territory.  I mean when I try to speak to “that” person about GOD’s mercy, they may not accept what I’m saying right then and there.  I should listen to GOD every step of the way to determine if my actions, tone or demeanor is getting in the way of this person hearing GOD’s message of mercy.  I should be a living sacrifice to GOD.

• Are you having a difficult time hearing GOD?
• Are you too busy to hear HIM?
• Have you taken a moment to ask HIM what HE wants to do for your life?
• Have you given up on GOD?
• Can you sacrifice some of your busy time to focus on GOD today?

Someone please “stand up” for me.

Philemon 1:  ⁸ Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, ⁹ yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— ¹⁰ that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. ¹¹ Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

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Tempers flared as we were about to go toe to toe over a business issue we were trying to resolve.  My department thought of one solution and another department had the opposite. The other department had more clout and began to pull back their support for our other projects.

Our department was quickly becoming useless so I had to weigh being “dead right” or going with their solution. Fortunately I knew high ranking officers and got them to step in and speak on our behalf. We not only got support for our existing projects, we also established a compromise to the dilemma that started the battle.

• There are times when I will be “useless” to others because of something I have said or done.
• There are times when I will be “useless” to others due to a mistake I have made.
• There are times when I will be “useless” to others from lack of understanding or blindness on my part.

Many times in my life I have let sin get the best of me and then I have become “useless” to a person or a group of people. Whether it was a lie or fulfillment of lust or treating someone poorly, I have at one time or another, become useless.

During these “useless” situations, I need a change of heart and then an arbitrator, one who will speak on my behalf. Fortunately for me JESUS is my arbitrator to GOD.

• When I sinned as was sentenced to Hell, JESUS spoke for me.
• When I didn’t care about GOD, JESUS sent the HOLY SPIRIT to me.
• When I continue to sin, the HOLY SPIRIT speaks to the FATHER on my behalf, begging and pleading for me.

Sometimes I take my relationship with JESUS a little too lightly. I mean HIS salvation does not give me a license to sin or live any way I want. I really do need for HIM to step in and plead on my behalf because my righteousness is “useless” to GOD. HIS perfection is far greater than anything I could do.

I am so glad I have JESUS and the HOLY SPIRIT speaking on my behalf. By believing, I now have become “useful” to the FATHER.

• Is your life pleasing to GOD?
• Have you made a mistake and require someone to step in?
• Can you let JESUS “step in” and transform your “useless” life into something “useful?”