Do we have hidden sins that are undoing us? They don't have to be huge or incredibly sleazy, but dishonest to God's law, and to the commandments of Jesus Christ all the same. Tolerating such minute changes in our behavior will surely undo the good work that has been done in us, and we will slowly, and certainly, become blind in our faith.
How do you know when you have been in fervent prayer? Is it when you end your sentence with Amen, or is it when you unfold your hands, open your eyes, or get up off your knees? Those can all be indications of having prayed, but the real give away regarding fervent prayer is your heart; when the fingers of your soul begrudgingly let go of the hand of God as you return to your body... and language serves you once more.
God never leads us by the ear into salvation. He never forces us to acknowledge Him against our will, or badgers us until we finally give in and begin our journey of faith. No, a tiny seed is planted within us and upon germination it becomes our responsibility to tend to it as God grows it. Or, we can simply let it lie unattended until it eventually withers away. What will our choice be?
Do you worry about the salvation of your family members? Are you one of the believers who doesn't trust that their households are saved? Well, take heart, your belief has more than likely saved them all. By your faith and your example you are bringing the Word of the Lord into your home, and by doing that you are influencing the rest of your family.
Are we prepared to do the Father's bidding? I am not talking about the things you consider to be the grand tasks of heaven, but rather the trivial and menial jobs. Those that lesser acts that occur every day as we live out our lives; the ones that humble us and define us in the world’s eyes as the least of all the servants.
Have you prepared yourself for the challenges of a life of faith ahead? Are you ready for the trials that lie before you, or are you totally out of spiritual shape? Be as Jesus was... ready for the moment of God's calling... to do our Father’s will, and to be prepared to join with the Holy Spirit as you run the race of your life.
Do you claim the glory of God for yourself? When doing great things that you have been called and gifted to do, do you puff out your chest and swagger as if they were about you? We are tempted as spiritual men and women to claim earthly rights over God's work when it moves through us into the physical world, but we must defeat that inclination lest we sin, and are humbled by God Himself.
Do we feel particularly unworthy this morning? When we rose from bed did we feel dulled by the world as if we had lost our spiritual sheen? Well, cast that feeling off because we are living stones... pieces of heaven. When we look into the mirror we should rejoice, and see ourselves as a reflection of Christ’s perfection; we should see ourselves as a reflection of the Kingdom which is to come.
Are you tripping over your feet of faith? Do you begin to run in the understanding of God's will for your life only to fall flat on your face? Well, what do you do when that happens? Do you spring at once to your feet, slowly pull yourself up, or just lay there and cry? Then again, maybe the Lord delights in your way, and He catches you so that you don’t fall at all.
Have you always wanted to be the kind of Christian that is a blessing to others? Perhaps you have watched saints in your church and wished you could touch other people in the same way that they do. Well, don't discount yourself because you may be rippling out blessings at a much higher rate than you think!
How do we pray when we're broken? What do we pray for when we have nothing left, and our life is a shambles? How do we lift our spirits high enough that we can face God with our desires? We are often embarrassed when we have totally failed in life; we cover ourselves in leaves and hide as Adam and Eve did. Is that really what we should do? Is our faith that shallow? Do we believe that God has given us up to our despair?
Do you wake up in the morning believing you are a free man or woman, or have you given control to something or someone else? Are you independent, or have you given yourself over to a grand idea, your family, job, perhaps drugs, or some other thing, how about God? Where does He fit into your idea of freedom? Is being free really a choice you can make, or are you owned, and just being rebellious when believing otherwise? Let's explore our concept of freedom as it relates to God, Jesus, and our faith.
What does the church do with the fruit of great sacrifices that have been made for it? Does it horde them like provisions in its larder? Does it consume them itself like a fine wine? Or, perhaps it distributes them among the needy and deserving? This greater question that I have asked about the church begs each of us to answer similar questions of ourselves... what do I do with the fruit I receive from the sacrifice of the martyrs, and of Jesus? What do I do with the blood offering of Christ, and the suffering of so many others? There are certain things that people give you, or blessings that God lavishes upon you that are just too great to accept unto yourself. Let's look in scripture at a bible story that serves as an example...
09/02/2023 - Living Water and the Simple Vessels of Clay
Are we satisfied with all that God has done in us? When we look in the mirror in the morning are we pleased, and at ease, with the fact that Jesus has filled us with His teaching, and that the Holy Spirit has expanded our understanding to overflowing? All of this is beyond wonderful, but what is really asked of us isn't to simply reach a degree of self-fulfillment, or to impress others with our command of scripture, but rather that we deliver the good news of Jesus Christ to the lost souls around us. Our measure is in obediently doing God’s will by sharing the living water He has sent to us in Christ with the lost and thirsty of the world. Let’s look inward today and ask ourselves if we are a vessel from which many drink this living water.
Have you set yourself apart for the use of God? In other words, are you holy? If you think you are then let's go a step further and ask ourselves another question: "am I perfect!" These are hard questions and we often deflect them by saying that only Jesus is perfect, so how could I possibly be holy.