We live in a world where it appears to be easier to criticize than to encourage. It appears easier to Monday morning quarterback the big game rather than get in there and make the plays ourselves. It is easier to whisper in secret than shed light on situations in order that they become opportunities for success. It is easier to try to keep up with our neighbors (in material gains) by complaining then overextending ourselves or having unrealistic expectations versus working diligently, seeking God's favor and decision in our plans, and trusting what He says is right.
1 Chronicles 28:20 "David also said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished." (NIV)
Take some time to reread that verse a few times and break it down. Here is what God's word says to me.
- Be strong and courageous - Have faith (see Heb 11:1), stick to it, you have support.
- Do the work - How often do we want it just handed to us? When we get to heaven the Lord will say "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matt 25:23) because we have done the work of the Lord.
- Do not be afraid or discouraged - Often we are so full of fear that it incapacitates us to the point of non movement, and we fail. (see Matt 6:25-34) Worry, fear, doubt are all tools that Satan uses to drive a wedge between us and God.
- For the Lord is with you and will not fail you or forsake you - If we go back to the first three points, can we get a firmer grasp on this point.
God desires us to have a life fulfilled not empty. But we must understand that a life fulfilled may not be the "American Dream", it will be something way more powerful than that.
IF
We commit.
IF
We do the work.
IF
We trust, believe, love, and have faith.
God already stepped up to the plate. It is now our turn to meet him.
Has God given you an opportunity to step up? Has God given you an idea, a plan, a passion, a talent that you are not using?
STEP UP!!!
Blessings upon each of you this evening. God loves you.
Pastor Jim
Fear is probably one of the strongest motivators that we face. In the moment, it can force us to act in in-human ways. All too often, we don't think of fear as an emotion just like all others. We constantly hear advice from those close to us on how to handle our emotions, how to deal with our emotions, to "let it all out" or to "embrace it". We must do the same with fear. Acknowledge it. Find its nucleus. Understand it and act. Not REact. Overcome it, don't let it overcome you.
ReplyDeleteFaith and fear are so closely tied together - both are immense, unseen forces that can cause miraculous suspensions of what we believe to be true. A woman or man full of fear can literally lift a car to save their child. A man or woman full of faith can literally walk on water. Faith MUST overcome fear.
I think that, as people, we typically gain comfort as we gain knowledge. The idea of an algebra quiz would put fear in a first grader who's just learning to add and subtract (okay, AND a 28 year old who's terrible at math - lol). But we overcome this by reading math books and practicing problems and allowing ourselves to be taught. We must do the same with faith.
The Bible: a how-to guide on faithful living! It's a series of problems and solutions; questions and answers - it spells out faith for those dilligent enough to learn it. And with this knowledge we are comforted by the ease of our faith. There is no guide for fear, no book of instructions nor Yahoo! Answers posts in which we will find the settled contentedness we can from God's word. It's better than wikipedia, really, it's got all the answers to anything and it comes from the only truly reliable source.
Jim, thank you for always encouraging me to think, to discern, to create and - perhaps most importantly - to implement. Not only have you grown my faith in God, but my faith in ME as well!