|
“He who pursues righteousness and loyalty finds life, righteousness and honor.” Proverbs 21:21
One of the marks of a truly mature life is humility of spirit. A truly humble person looks for opportunities to give himself freely to others rather than holding back, to release rather than hoarding, to build up rather than tearing down, to serve rather than being served, to learn from others rather than clamoring for the teaching stand. How blessed are those who learn this early in life. “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.” Romans 8:9
The direction our life is taking reveals where the emphasis in our life lies. We may have achieved our material objectives, but is that enough? Remember, we are also a spiritual being, therefore; our spirit can only be fully satisfied when in a dynamic relationship with the Holy Spirit! This intimately, personal relationship with God can only be attained by faith in the resurrected Christ; a faith which is more than a fleeting emotion; a faith which accepts His authority in all aspects of our life. This type of faith will give us a true sense and meaning to our life! In His Love, Do All You Can, While You Can, As Long As You Can, To All You Can….Have a Beautifully Blessed Day! God leaves us here because He has a mission for us to fulfill. We aren’t here by accident; neither are we here simply to enjoy the good things life has to offer. We are here because God put us here, and He has a sovereign purpose in keeping us here. It’s true for us as individuals, and it’s true for His body, the Church, in all of its fullness. As Jesus prayed just before His arrest and trial, “I am not praying that You take them out of the world…As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.” (John 17:15,18)
“As for me, I trust in You, O Lord, I say, “You are my God.” Psalm 31:14
I don’t know the exact number of promises in the Bible but I do know that within the pages of the Bible there are thousands of promises that grab the reader and say, “Believe Me! Accept Me! Hold on to Me! And of all the promises in the Bible, the ones that often mean the most are the promises that offer hope at the end of affliction. Those promises that tell us that it’s worth it to walk with Him, trust Him and wait on Him for He will reward us. “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion.” 1 Peter 5:8-9
The devil preys on the godly. If you compromise your walk, you’re not really a target of the enemy. Why should he waste his time? You’re already halfway in his camp. But if you determine to stand alone and against the tide, if you determine to live according to biblical standards, be sure that your enemy is seeking to devour you. But our great hope and assurance is that the One in us is greater than the one in the world. “I will make them walk by streams of waters, on a straight path in which they will not stumble.” Jeremiah 31:9
Whatever form mistreatment takes, it hurts. You feel the rejection. You’ve done what is right, but you’ve been treated wrongly. In the midst of all this, remember God has not abandoned you. He has not forgotten you. He never left. He understands the heartache brought on by the evil He mysteriously permits so He might bring you to a tender, sensitive walk with Him. God is good. Jesus Christ is real, your present circumstances notwithstanding. Look up to Him, who is able to keep you. “I have surely seen the affliction of My people…and have given heed to their cry.” Exodus 3:7
You may be finding yourself in a situation that seems terribly unfair. Your immediate circumstances are harsh and hard to handle. Your heart aches as events beyond your control roll across your landscape like heavy boulders. If this is your situation, take note: God knows, right down to the final nub exactly where you are in life. He sees. He cares. He is aware. And best of all, He is touched by it. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:10
We are to be a people who do good deeds. That's a very significant part of who we are as Jesus' followers. Let's look for the many opportunities which God places in our paths to bless others. Let's use all of these blessings to bring God glory! In His Love, Do All You Can, While You Can, As Long As You Can, To All You Can….Have a Beautifully Blessed Day! “O Lord, you have searched me and have known me.” Psalm 139:1
We can keep up a front with other people; it’s a way to protect ourselves when we feel insecure. Unfortunately, our defenses also stop us from receiving their love. God knows us completely and He’s aware those defenses stop us from having the life He has created for us. He slowly chips away at them until we can fully experience His love. God knows us more profoundly than we know ourselves, and He’s declared we are worth loving! Therefore, let Him tear always those defenses so others can know and love us as well. Joy is a choice. It's a matter of attitude that stems from one's confidence in God- that He is at work, that He is in full control, that He is in the midst of whatever has happened, is happening and will happen. Either we fix our minds on that and determine to laugh again, or we wail and whine our way through life. We determine which way we will go.
|
Pastor Derrick RichardsonPastor of Community Abundant Life Church Archives
March 2023
Categories |
RSS Feed
|
Community Abundant Life Church
1701 NW 7th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73106 (405) 557-7822 Pastor Derrick Richardson |
|
“Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” Romans 15:7
|
Managed by Perry Publishing & Broadcasting