All in God
In today’s world of religion the mantra is often that “God helps those who help themselves”, and that Jesus makes the righteous wealthy, but the truth is that God’s ear is attuned to those whose spirits are crushed and who are broken-hearted. His mercy is rarely focused on worldly things, but is applied liberally to redeeming us, and easing our suffering.
Are you in the middle of a situation that perplexes you? Are you overwhelmed by adversity and don’t know what to do next? Sometimes we find life to be more than we can handle, or circumstances to be new to us, and in such times we are uncertain what our next step should be. In times like these we should seek the presence of God, and the intercession of Jesus; then obey As they instruct us. The apostle Paul found himself in just such a confusing circumstance as he travelled to Damascus.
In this time of Coronavirus , complete with its “Safer at Home”, and “Social Distancing”, mandates, Pastors and churches have for the most part complied with these ordinances, but with tithes dwindling, and bills to pay, there is a temptation to go ahead with normal church activities by convincing ourselves, and our members, that as believers, and people of faith, God will miraculously protect us, and treat us differently than others. Satan tried to convince Jesus to behave in this same manner during his third temptation when he tried to convince Christ to throw Himself from the pinnacle of the temple. Jesus resisted by refusing to “tempt the Lord”. Are we prepared to face the consequences of tempting God by our actions today? Actions that don’t mirror those of Jesus?
When we awaken each morning and we enter consciously into the presence of God do we do so humbly, or thinking that we deserve to be there with Him? When we come to his table in our morning prayer where do we take a seat; do we sit immediately at the right hand of His chair, or in a lesser seat? Our view of our faith is not nearly as important as His perception of it, so where we sit relative to Him is vitally important.
Do you want God to think of you in your time of trouble? Do you want Him to remember what you are going through to such a degree that He will place your tears in His bottle, and write an account of it in His book? When we face hardship we call upon the Lord in prayer, and with Him at our side we overcome it... we overcome our suffering by rallying our faith, and trusting in God’s promises. After each such instance we want to do something that will help us remember, and we would like for God to remember as well.
Are you easily swayed towards the world, and away from righteousness, and the spirit? Do the things of the flesh entice you, and cause you to desire them day and night? Then these are the things which you have set your mind on, and their rewards have become your gods.
Do you feel out of sorts in your faith? Has God placed you in a certain place, or situation, perhaps asked you to do something that you don’t understand the purpose in? When this happens we often start questioning Him, and get despondent, but suddenly, we are surrounded by His light, and for a brief instant we see Him in a way that would have been impossible anywhere else. We envy those who seem to stand in God’s light always, but sometimes He moves us into a cleft to show us more of Himself.
Are we occasional Christians? Are we occasional in our worship of God? Do we straddle the flaming rift between heaven and earth not knowing which foot to pull up, and which way to lean? Well our God is not a sometimes God, He desires our all, gives us His all, and as the chasm between heaven and earth continues to widen we will reach a point in which we will fall into the pit unless a choice is made. Which will we choose, or will the choice be made for us?
Are you a blessing to the Lord in all the things you do, the praise you give, and the worship to enter into, or do you just do good and moral things? Do you look to God for provision, healing, salvation, enlightenment, and other such blessings, or do you consider these things to be the result of the moral life you lead, and of your own doing? You acknowledge God, you believe Jesus Christ lived, but do you believe that they are just as as alive and active in your life today as in the times of the early saints? What is your expectation of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit in your life?
Do we pray and hear only silence in return? Are we satisfied to live out our spiritual lives in the silence of God? Well this is not what a faithful soul should expect; our lives should be spent seeking, listening, and obeying the voice of God. When we have become content with silence we have become accustomed to being separated from God, and this should be fearful and torturous to us.
By believing in God, and having knowledge of Him, God gives us life and godliness, but what do we do with them? Do we practice our faith to it’s fullest, or do we attempt to wear it around our neck like a trophy; something we take pride in having achieved? Scripture tells us that we should be more than just the recipients of God’s grace, but to partake of it, and escape the corruption of the world.
Once we have placed our faith in Jesus Christ, who are we then? Our transformation might be an amazing surprise to us, but it is far from surprising to God. He foresaw our adoption as sons and daughters from the very foundation of the world. Are you prepared to take on this life as one of God’s children? By our faith we have become the children of privilege who sit around the feet of God the Father, and receive His every blessing.
When disaster comes, or times grow hard to bear, how do you perceive these events in relation to your walk with God? Do you question Him and wonder why He would allow such things to happen to you? Maybe you even think they are of His doing, and that He is mad at you, or in some way displeased. Well friends, we read in the Bible that the Lord has indeed punished some, but for the most part times like these are just the everyday storms of life that bring rain upon us all.
We are inclined to reach out to God when we are in need, and rightly so, but is that the only time we do so? God is our provider, protector, Lord who establishes laws, and many other such things, but He wants more than these official responsibilities; He wants to be our friend, and our companion. Do you walk with the Lord? Do you seek to know not only what He is, and what He will do for you, but who He is? Have you allowed God to be your friend and companion?
Are there times when you feel alone? Loneliness doesn’t mean that you are necessarily by yourself... we can feel it in a crowded room. We can be in a sports arena surrounded by thousands of people, and yet suffer the pangs of loneliness as if we were abandoned on an uninhabited island. This feeling isn’t a physical one, but a mental, and spiritual one; yet in Jesus, and before our God we are never alone. The Holy Spirit was given to us for this very reason... so that we would not be alone in our faith.