God is a just God. He wants to bless us, but the first thing that we have to do is seek God first. Jesus says in Luke 12.
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Luke 12:29-31 KJV
It’s really important to remember that we live in this world, but our true home is somewhere else. Whether you just received Jesus as the Lord of your life or you’ve been saved for years, it’s extremely important to remember where our loyalties lie.
I personally have experienced the drift that I know can be common in Christian’s lives. One month we are on fire for God then something happens or you get “too busy” and pretty soon you are wondering where God is and can’t remember the last time you read your Bible.
Sometimes the greatest danger is when we continue to go to church and think we are growing, but with God it’s not ever about what you know but it’s always about what you do.
Actions speak louder than words
There’s a common saying, “Actions speak louder than words.” With God this is very true. In fact, Jesus goes as far as to say in Romans that if you are teaching someone you better make sure you aren’t violating that lesson yourself (I’m paraphrasing obviously, Romans 2:17-24).
The point is that you can’t simply talk about doing what is right, you have to DO something. That’s why I started writing these blog posts in the first place! God TOLD me to do it. At the time I didn’t really want to. I was caught up on how people looked at me and what they would say. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was caught up in pride.
But as I resisted God in my pride He started resisting me.
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
James 4:6 KJV
Things in my life stayed the same. I didn’t lose physical health or any things and from the outside I looked fine, but right down on the inside I felt a lack of peace. God resisteth the proud…
Do what you know to do
17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
James 4:17 KJV
Actions. They’re what actually matter. We’ve all heard the saying, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”
Does this sound familiar? “Oh! I meant to do that! But I got too busy”
The problem is that it still didn’t get done.
I’m not saying that any of us is perfect, but if we want to live a satisfying life there are two things we need to do.
- Seek God first in everything
- Do everything you know God is telling you to do quickly and with a willing heart.
Sounds easy right?! Or not…
But it still doesn’t change the fact that it’s true. The Bible tells us that …
19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
Isaiah 1:19-20 KJV
Accepting Jesus is the easy part. LIVING for Jesus is where it gets hard.
Jesus gave up his life so that we could be raised with Him and come alive. Now every day you and I live has to be spent dying to ourselves and living for Christ. The more of our lives we can lose, the more of God we will choose.
Run the race with the finish in mind.
When you are looking to accomplish a goal, the first thing a life coach or successful business mentor will say is that you have to have a goal in mind.
“I can tell anyone how to get what they want out of life. The problem is that I can’t find anybody who can tell me what they want.”
Mark Twain
The Bible covers this when it tells us that Jesus started by focusing on the prize.
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2 KJV
“For the joy set before him…” There was a prize and reason for everything Jesus did, and because He was focused on the goal everything in between was just an obstacle He had to overcome to get Him there.
The same can be said about us!
I know that there are things in life that aren’t fun. Life can suck sometimes, but for the prize set before us (Jesus) we endure these things in life. We count it all joy as James tells us to do and we keep acting on what the Word says to do.
Continue to do everything that you know to do. As you grow, you are responsible for the things that you learn. Once you know to do something and don’t do it, you are sinning by God’s own definition.
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