Quality or Kindling

Quality or Kindling

1 Corinthians 3: You are also God's building. ¹⁰ Using the gift that God gave me, I did the work of an expert builder and laid the foundation, and someone else is building on it. But each of you must be careful how you build. ¹¹ For God has already placed Jesus Christ as the one and only foundation, and no other foundation can be laid. ¹² Some will use gold or silver or precious stones in building on the foundation; others will use wood or grass or straw. ¹³ And the quality of each person's work will be seen when the Day of Christ exposes it. For on that Day fire will reveal everyone's work; the fire will test it and show its real quality. ¹⁴ If what was built on the foundation survives the fire, the builder will receive a reward. ¹⁵ But if your work is burnt up, then you will lose it; but you yourself will be saved, as if you had escaped through the fire.

 

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Hearing a polished orator made me feel insignificant. I would hear about their audiences of millions of people and look at my numbers only to hold my head down in shame. I panicked and tried to be like famous people as quickly as I could. I went away from quality and started putting out irrelevant information. The few who I spoke to soon left.

 

• There were many times when I wanted to be seen and heard.
• There were many times when I served people so “I” could get noticed.
• There were many times when I got involved so I could be with the crowd that looked good.

 

Paul uses a different analogy. He switched from plants in a field to that of a building. JESUS CHRIST is the one and only foundation to build anything, Paul explains. Some people use money and others use security or health, but those who truly follow GOD need the right foundation.

 

• GOD wants me to continually question my motives to see if I am speaking about JESUS.
• GOD wants me to know I am susceptible to seeking selfish motives, so I should be careful how I build.
• GOD wants me to seek sincerity when I serve otherwise HE will burn up my work.

 

“Did you see me give?” is a question that could point to a work that may be burned up by GOD. I mean, HE said “Give in secret.” HE also gave guidelines for prayer and fasting. HE just wants me to be sincere when serving HIM. Unfortunately, sin gets in the way and there are times when my motive is not aligned with HIS.

 

GOD forgives me and can tell the difference of when I am being sincere and when my motive is false. I am grateful HE forgives my false motive and loves me enough to serve HIM in Spirit and truth.

 

• Are you trying to impress people to get a large following?
• Do you want to look good in front of people and are not concerned how you look in front of GOD?
• Will you ask GOD to help you sincerely serve HIM and do what HE wants, especially when no one is looking?

Believing “is” my job

John 6:  ²⁸ Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

 ²⁹ Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

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Sitting alone in my apartment was great for me because I could finally feel a need to go back to church. This was no longer my parents’ decision but mine. After wasting many years I felt I needed to make up for lost time. I think I volunteered for everything in church. “GOD, this makes up for all my sinful years, right?”

• I can never “work” away my sins.
• I can never “work” my way into GOD’s approval.
• I can never “work” hard enough to obtain eternal life.

I truly thought I could be “good” enough to erase the sin in my life.  In fact I stopped doing so many things soon I thought I was pretty “great.” I compared myself to my old “down trodden” friends and of course now I was better than them because they were still sinning and I wasn’t.

My attitude was smug and at that time I probably thought I could teach JESUS a thing or two.

• The only job GOD has given me is to believe.
• My one and only task in life that is paramount to anything is to believe.
• The greatest thing I can do for people is to believe in JESUS.

Spreading the great news about JESUS does take work but the work doesn’t make me holy. My willingness to tell people about HIM coupled with my faith that HE is “the ONE” makes me holy. My righteousness is like, excuse the expression, a used tampon.

Many times I have the wrong attitude about working, giving, and living for GOD. It’s either out of obligation or out of guilt and shame that I press hard to do my part. GOD the FATHER gave up everything when HE gave HIS one and only SON. HE wants me to believe “everything” will be fine in spite of today’s circumstances.

HE wants me to believe all the way to death and that’s my only job.

• Are you trying to work your way into heaven?
• Have you turned from GOD because it seems too hard to follow HIS rules?
• Have you been able to just “stand still” and watch the power of the LORD?
• Can you get your hands off of GOD’s job and do yours, namely “believe?”

Do something!

James 2: ¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶ If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

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Bright shining sun began to fill the room as we shut down our marathon night of fun and games. It was Sunday morning in the dorm and a few people were up early, dressed and ready to go to church. There was no way to avoid them as they quickly approached me and invited me to go with them. They were probably going to feed the hungry or something!

I quickly thought of my lie to shake them off. “Maybe next time” I said to them as I trudged off to bed.

• I will always have an excuse for not serving GOD.
• There will always be more work to do or fun to be had that gets in the way of serving.
• When selfishness is in my heart I can’t bring myself to serve others.

It takes more than “belief” to show faith. If I am capable, my “belief” should be put into action.

But many times life seems to get in the way of serving others.  My work schedule along with other responsibilities seems to dictate my day. How can I serve when I don’t seem to have any time?

Serving doesn’t have to be “big” rather deliberate.

• I can serve others by smiling when everyone else is frowning.
• I can serve others by remaining calm when the storm of life presses against me.
• I can serve others by teaching people to serve GOD by serving others.

GOD gave me a purpose in life and that is to serve others so that HE can draw people back to HIMSELF. HE allows all humans to go their own direction and HE loves when I choose to serve HIS creation. I can no longer sit idle while people are hungry and losing their homes. 

It takes practice to serve others so I had to start small and grow into it. GOD has now called me to be a resource to many so HE delivers people for me to serve.

• Do you believe in GOD and have not served anyone in a while?
• Are you too stuck in your own situation to serve someone else?
• Can you take the focus off of you for a moment to encourage someone today?

I didn’t find grace it found me!

Ephesians 2: ⁸For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

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Laughter filled the room and the pillows were strewn about the living room. It stopped when we heard a crash. We didn’t have much but the little we had was precious to my parents so the broken vase sent terror through each of us.

We crafted a plan that would surely work and got some “black electrical” tape to carefully put the pieces together.

• In the middle of my sin JESUS died for me.
• Since salvation is a gift, I can’t take credit for it.
• There is nothing that I have or do that makes GOD love me more or less.

My mother came in, quickly observed the situation and caught us in our normal lie of “I don’t know.” Disappointment fell on her face, not because of the vase, because we had lied. Her grace was mixed with anger as she taught us about truth.

GOD can’t love me more than giving me HIS SON and I know HE loves me “even though I sin” because HE died for me “in the middle of my sins.” HE gave me true grace and pardoned me from HIS eternal punishment.

I love the fact that HE created me for HIS purpose. I can choose to follow HIM or not, but I was created to “do good works” HE prepared before the foundations of the world. Imagine GOD knowing humans would sin creating a plan of redemption that I am a part of.

Yes, JESUS’ blood can cover every sin except one, the sin of rejecting JESUS as the one and only savior. GOD has a plan that includes me loving other humans so through love they abstain from rejecting HIS grace.

• GOD went out and looked for me.
• GOD found me committing sin and loved me anyway.
• GOD took the punishment for my sin.
• GOD wants me to love others so HE can do the same for them

I don’t always do GOD’s work very well. I get impatient with others especially when I’m stuck in my selfish ways. But when I do focus on the kingdom, then HE is pleased with my work and says “well done my good and faithful servant.”

• Do you think you had anything to do with GOD’s grace?
• Are you still blaming GOD for not giving you what you want?
• Can you praise HIM for forgiving you of “all” your sins?
• Can you show someone grace today?

Your "reward" is on its way!

Revelation 22:12"Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.


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I was raised to do good deeds, but as a child I didn't know why. I thought that if I did good the GOD would like me and if I didn't, HE would punish me. I am slowly realizing that GOD doesn't have the flimsy measures of mankind.

• GOD is slow to anger. GOD loves you and me 100%.
• GOD allowed HIS SON to go on a volunteer mission to save humans.
• GOD sent HIS SPIRIT to live in humans sinful bodies to those who believe.
• GOD only sees good in us once we believe in HIS SON!

I pondered this for a while. I know the Bible says GOD sends correction to HIS people. I also know that it says that "I will reap what I sow", BUT GOD correction and errors are only temporary and tied to this world.I actually got angry at one point and wondered "why does GOD put us through all of this?" Why do we have to walk blindly on this earth and then get rewards later? Then I realized GOD did some amazing things.GOD made humans as HIS prize possession.

• HE made a perfect place for them.
• HE gave them free will to choose HIM or not (love offers choice).
• HE wrote HIS law on every humans' heart.
• HE allowed even HIS angels to choose. (Satan chose to try to be GOD and failed).In spite of all the turmoil not caused by HIM, HE redeemed HIS humans.

Now I am amazed that HE has rewards for me. HE actually appreciates each time I tell someone about the GREAT news about JESUS. HE loves it when I treat one of HIS undeserving humans the same way HE treated me. HE get's excited when I "love" in spite of my circumstance.Now I am not being good because I want GOD to be pleased anymore. I do good because of what HE has already done for me.

• Are you excited about what GOD has done for you?
• When is the last time you did something for someone simply because GOD did things for you?
• When you do good are you trying to manipulate GOD into giving you your own way?
• Is the thing you want good for you?