Live In

Live In

3 John 1: ¹ From the Elder—

To my dear Gaius, whom I truly love.

² My dear friend, I pray that everything may go well with you and that you may be in good health—as I know you are well in spirit. ³ I was so happy when some Christians arrived and told me how faithful you are to the truth—just as you always live in the truth. ⁴ Nothing makes me happier than to hear that my children live in the truth.

 

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“You have to eat specific foods” said the personal trainer at the gym. I wanted to get into heavy weightlifting and found myself unable to get beyond where I was at. People surrounded me and had me start over with technique, food and rest advice.

 

• I knew what to do, but it was up to me to actually do something about it.
• I had to change my lifestyle to be part of this new world to me.
• I had to be presented with what to do so I could make the change.

 

John starts off his third letter with a greeting to Gaius. He had heard about the faith Gaius was showing. Gaius was living in “the truth.” John may have talked to him about CHRIST and heard word that Gaius was “living in the truth.”

 

My Observations:

• JESUS is the Way “the Truth” and the Life, in which I can receive eternal life.
• GOD wants me to love my neighbors versus complaining about them and HE wants me to love HIM more than anything I have.
• Living in CHRIST provides me with all the protection that I need.

 

Knowing versus doing is a quandary we all face. I mean, GOD placed right from wrong inside all of us by writing HIS law on every heart, yet we choose not to follow HIS ways. BUT HE made a way back to HIM through JESUS.

 

By accepting CHRIST as my personal Savior, I can follow HIS ways without questioning them or fighting them. HE provides the HOLY SPIRIT to live inside my heart and to guide me  HE provides boundaries for me to live in and I am freed from the pressures of the world and can simply “be.” I gladly abide in what GOD has for me.

 

Challenge

• Do you sense the love from the writer?
• Have you ever known what was right to do, yet you did not or could not bring yourself to do it?
• Will you seek JESUS by asking HIM, “How do YOU want me to live? And let the HOLY SPIRIT guide you to “live in” HIS ways today?

 

Welcomed and Recognized

Welcomed and Recognized

1 Corinthians 16: ¹⁹ The churches in the province of Asia send you their greetings; Aquila and Priscilla and the church that meets in their house send warm Christian greetings. ²⁰ All the believers here send greetings.

Greet one another with the kiss of peace.

²¹ With my own hand I write this: Greetings from Paul.

²² Whoever does not love the Lord—a curse on him!

Marana tha—Our Lord, come!

²³ The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.

²⁴ My love be with you all in Christ Jesus.

 

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“Come in! Grab a plate and sit anywhere!” were words that made me feel welcome. I wasn’t sure about this group. I had played some words of doubt in my mind. “What if I don’t know anyone there?” And “What will I say?” And “What if I am alone, will I stand out as an embarrassment?” I went to the gathering despite my shy thoughts.

 

• I had been laughed at in the past.
• I had been places where I wasn’t welcome and was made to feel less than the other guests.
• I had gone places alone and was left alone by other people.

 

Paul completes his letter with a warm greeting. He sent a greeting from many people and reminded everyone to do the same. Greeting means welcomed and recognized. One important recognition he sent in his greeting was that of JESUS.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to be intentional with making people feel welcome.
• GOD wants me to send words of peace to those I meet.
• GOD wants me to recognize when another human is in proximity to me, even if it is with a smile.

 

Feeling welcome and recognized makes me relax for a moment. I mean the world has me ready for a fight and I gather information for combat. BUT GOD wants peace. HE wants me to receive peace and give it whenever I can.

 

Greeting doesn’t need to be robotic like a large grocery store chain. It can be heartfelt and loving, especially when the purpose is to provide the love of JESUS. I greet all who read this and send my love to you in CHRIST JESUS.

 

Challenge

• How do you feel when reading the words of greeting from the writer?
• How do you make people feel welcome and recognized?
• Will you be genuine with your desire to greet people for the purpose of spreading the love of JESUS today?

First Response

First Response

Acts 10: ³⁰ So Cornelius said,  “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, ³¹ and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God. ³² Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.’ ³³ So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”

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“Gullible” was the label placed on me with laughter. Questions were hurled at me with answers I did not know. I would to proud to say “I don’t know” so I went along with what people said. When I heard the laughter, I decided no one would fool me again. I became suspicious of motive, listening intently for lies.

• When I was hurt by liars, I became suspicious.
• When I was embarrassed by pranksters I became jaded to simply listening to anyone.
• When I was told one thing and watched people do another, I became slow to respond until I found out the “truth.”

Cornelius quieted down, fasted and prayed to GOD. He heard from GOD that his prayers and alms were remembered. His first response was to obey what GOD told him without doubt. Peter did the same. He went to a group of people who did not look nor act like him. Peter was obedient to the point of bridging the gap between races.

• GOD wants my first response to be that of love.
• GOD wants my first response to also include seeking people for HIS kingdom.
• GOD wants my first response to also include faith, compassion, mercy and grace.

It is not easy to have my first response to be focused on GOD. I mean when “that” person says the right thing, my first response is to react, probably in a negative way. BUT GOD gives me a “second” chance. HE wants me to pause for a “second”, think about my response and use my “second” response as my first.

Obedience to GOD grows my faith. I am grateful GOD gives me a second chance.

• What is your first response when things go wrong or when someone wrongs you?
• Do you react to people quickly and respond negatively?
• Will you change your first response to include GOD so HE can use you for HIS amazing plans today?

Sunny Warm Days

Malachi 4: ² But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.

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Wet and cold were my toes from snow engulfing my boots. Dark was the day and it seemed like the word dismal was the only description for life at that time. As I stood waiting on the bus, a snowplow drove by and sloshed its slush on my cold feet.

• Sometimes it seemed like the sun would never shine again.
• Sometimes my mood felt like a cloud of grey.
• Sometimes multiple difficult situations made me think everything was wrong.

When new dirty slush hit my frozen toes I had reached my final straw. I officially declared that particular day the worse day of my life at the time. Nothing would cheer me up and I was ready to be grumpy, but lo and behold I saw the familiar lights of the bus shining in the darkness. My heart was filled with relief as the driver pulled directly in front of me for a change.

• GOD provides me with the sun of righteousness.
• GOD provides me with the warmth of HIS love.
• GOD provides me with the rays of HIS healing power.

I sat in a warm spot and noticed an extra bonus. Somehow I had even more heat than normal blowing towards me as I sat near the tire well. The bus was very old. I removed my boot and socks, emptied the excess water placed my socks and toes next to the vent. Such great relief! I got off the bus with warm toes and dry socks. Maybe the day wasn’t so bad after all, I thought.

• Have you reached your limit?
• Do you think the day is filled with nothing but grey clouds?
• Can you see GOD’s healing sunshine even when it is cloudy?
• Will you learn to take GOD’s warmth to people instead of cold bitter words?

Deeper Relationship

Jeremiah 4: ³ This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and to Jerusalem:

“Break up your unplowed ground
    and do not sow among thorns.
⁴ Circumcise yourselves to the Lord,
    circumcise your hearts,
    you people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,
or my wrath will flare up and burn like fire
    because of the evil you have done—
    burn with no one to quench it.

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After recovering from my immature tantrum, I asked GOD, “Why didn’t I get into the Junior Executive program during the first job I had out of college?” I went to church and the preacher mumbled stuff about being “sent” places. Sent? What about the places “I” want to go? I pouted.

• GOD says to me “The heart is desperately wicked, who can know it”
• GOD says to me “There is a way that seems right to a man.”
• GOD says to me “Human righteousness is like a dung pile.”

After I settled down I said to GOD “I will stay here” although I despised the town I was in at the time. Months later I received a job back in my home town. I could see the fruit of GOD on so many levels. HE sent me to a tiny church in the middle of the city. Many people professed CHRIST as their LORD. I see now, that was the right path.

• GOD wants me to “Circumcise my heart” by getting rid of the need to have “my” way.
• GOD wants me to “Break up my unplowed fertile ground leaving the thorns alone” by seeking HIS plan for a change.
• GOD wants me to understand that HE does have wrath but HIS love is far greater.

After growing up a bit, I realize that “my” life is not mine at all, it is GOD’s. HE can and should be able to do with my life, whatever pleases HIM. After a while, getting “my” way should line up with getting “GOD’s” way. When I seek the kingdom first, that’s exactly what GOD will give me, in abundance! My way may include fame and riches, GOD’s way will include more and more of HIS kingdom!

• Have you turned away from GOD?
• Do you think your plan is going to work without HIM?
• Will you stop trying to do things on your own and seek GOD’s wisdom?

GOD Moves Hearts

Ezra 1: ⁵ Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites—everyone whose heart God had moved—prepared to go up and build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem.

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Stuffing my feet under the chair to hide my holey shoes wasn’t good enough to not be seen. My fraternity brother noticed me and the next meeting brought me a pair of his shoes. I now had one and a half pairs of shoes.

Sitting on the trunk of my broken down car in the dark in the middle of nowhere, an elderly couple stopped and picked me up. They did not look like me or know why I was on my trunk. They asked “Do you know GOD?” I could feel their prayers as they dropped me off at the rest area five miles away.

• Sometimes things look dim.
• Sometimes things look grim.
• Sometimes things look pitiful.

When things were finally out of my control and there was nowhere to turn, GOD stirred someone’s heart to provide something I needed. I hadn’t even prayed for the thing I needed yet GOD saw fit to provide it to me anyway.

• GOD wants my heart to be open for HIS bidding.
• GOD wants my heart to be open for HIS will.
• GOD wants my heart to be open so HE can execute HIS wonderful plan HE has for me.

GOD wants to use me in marvelous ways, if I’m willing. When the clouds of life are in the way I cannot seem to see the SON. BUT GOD clears my path, dusts me off and now it’s my turn to help others. GOD moves my heart.

• Are you open to GOD moving your heart?
• Are you willing to listen to HIM?
• Will you show compassion on “that person?”
• Can you be a blessing to someone today?

GOD knows the desires of my heart

1 Samuel 9: ¹⁹ “I am the seer,” Samuel replied. “Go up ahead of me to the high place, for today you are to eat with me, and in the morning I will send you on your way and will tell you all that is in your heart. ²⁰ As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them; they have been found. And to whom is all the desire of Israel turned, if not to you and your whole family line?”

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Feeling rather defeated, I trudged back to my apartment to eat dinner alone and get ready for the next day. Work was boring and repetitious and I had been turned down for one job and the other company I really wanted to work for went on a hiring freeze. I settled my mind, got my mail and noticed a message on my answering machine.

“No one calls me” I thought to myself living in this strange town.  The message referenced my mail. When I opened the envelope in question, I got a sense this would be a life changing job. I returned the call and began a new adventure.

• GOD knows the desires of my heart.
• GOD knows exactly what I can handle.
• GOD knows exactly what HE wants for HIS wonderful plan for me.

Several times in my life I wanted something and GOD said “Not quite” meaning I only knew what my desire was from the surface. GOD knew something more about my desire and took it a step further.  HE developed the perfect plan for me and I could not have ever thought of the path HE put me on.

• GOD’s plan is far deeper than the surface plan I can develop.
• GOD’s plan takes into account my disappointments, wants and needs to form a perfect road for me.
• GOD’s plan seems like a dead end at times, but always, always comes through.

In spite of my doubts and others, GOD has a plan that is etched in stone for me. HE said “No one can pluck you out of MY hand” meaning HE will never, ever let go of me. Since HE is holding onto me, HIS plan for me won’t fail. All I have to do is trust.

• Is your trust low?
• Do you think GOD has forgotten you?
• Can you open your eyes, ears and heart to see HE is working in and on your life?
• Won’t you give your desires to GOD so HE can develop a better plan for you?