Right Here, Right NOW!

So many people I have met who were raised in church and who are now in their middle ages are wringing their hands and feeling that somehow they have missed the will of God for their lives.  

Is this you? I have to admit that for some time this was me. But what I have learned, and have been assured of from above, is that God's will is not some past turn in the road or some future unattainable place or purpose.  

God's will is in being obedient in the present, in the place you are right now in this very day. Where you are at the moment is where God has intended you to be. If you have maintained an obedient stature then God has placed you where you are. "The steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord." And if you have not maintained an obedient stature then God has a plan, where you are, for if and when you decide to obey Him.

Do you love God? Have you been called into a relationship with Him through the gospel of His Son Jesus Christ unto an unfeigned love of the brethren and an unfeigned love for souls? Then Romans 8:28 is for you. "we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to His purpose." (from memory - sorry if it is not exact) ALL THINGS work together for good. This means that all of your poor decisions, all of your hardships, all of your broken relationship somehow all have worked together to temper you and make you stronger for the purpose that God has designed for you. Our sin and failure, because those who are forgiven much love much, also work together or will work in you, to give you a passion for those who are still in bondage. God makes no mistakes and nothing catches Him by surprise. I have people in my life, people I have trusted, who have hurt me deeply. I thank God for them now because they have been used to temper me and give me a zeal and compassion that I do believe I would not have otherwise. When you are hurt it gives you a heart for the hurting.

Don't be clambering after God's will as though it is some yet undiscovered future ideal for you. IT IS, but God will bring you there, and as long as you strive after it you will have no peace and you will not be content.

Jesus said, "Take no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take though for the things of its own, sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof" Don't fret my friend. God is perfectly omniscient and perfectly powerful. He is perfectly capable of placing you where He wants you to be and in the time that He decides.

Be obedient in the present; right here, right now. Don't lean on your own understanding; if in anything you be otherwise minded God will reveal it to you. Jonah knew what he was running from, he was not ignorant of what God had said.  Still others were busy working in the field, or fishing, or doing their accounting at the gate, and God met them where they were and commissioned them. More still were simply faithful in the place where they were and it is recorded in His Word, Hallelujah, that God saw fit to use their gifts, sacrifices of time, and service to further His work. 

You cannot miss Gods 'call' if you are in an obedient way today.  Submit to what you know you are supposed to be doing and God will direct your steps. Count on it. He will be glorified in your life and someday, whether you stand in a pulpit week after week or not, you will hear "Well Done! Thou good and faithful servant."

He must increase, WE must decrease!

Liar Liar

"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Revelation 21:8)

The fearful lie and say "I'm not afraid to die, I embrace life!"
The unbelieving lie and say "I'm an Athiest, there is no God!"
The abominable lie and say, "I'm alright. Live and let live!"
Those who hate others lie and say, "I just don't like them."
Whoremongers lie and say, "It's just an affair, an indiscretion."
Sorcerers lie and say, "You can have power." 
Though they feel weak.
Idolaters lie and create a god after their own liking.

And all other "liars (also), shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."

All God wants really is for us to be honest with Him. He already knows what we're made of. He already knows our deepest and darkest thoughts. Those things that we are afraid to tell anyone about. Jesus knows who and what we are and loves us anyway. All He wants is our honesty.

He said, "I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life"
Anything other than honesty is the antithesis of Who and What God Is. When we in sincerity and humility come to God He then runs to our aid and salvation.

Cast off deceit, humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, and He will lift you up. But if you will not, 
"there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin."

Jesus died and rose again so you can be free!
Will you let Him be exalted, will you humble yourself?

"He must increase, WE must decrease!"

My Cup Runneth Over

As I sat trying to get our growing toddler to take a nap I noticed that her sippy-cup was leaking. I kind of hate those stupid things... It doesn't matter the brand we buy they always seem to leak. The trick is to get the fluid into the untrained mouth without this happening but it occurred to me also that spiritually speaking this sort of thing is supposed to happen.

If you are a newly born-again Christians, that is a person who has recently come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and have called on Him and Him alone for your salvation from sin's consequences, if you would be "laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:" (1 Peter 2:1-2) then your cup will run over too.

Have you tasted that the Lord is gracious? Then lay aside any personal agenda you may have and dig into the Word of God, as you grow you will also begin to glow. Your light will shine before men, they will see your good works, and will glorify God... they will take note that God is doing a work in you. Your cup will run over.

The Psalmist prayed "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever." (Psalm 23:5-6)

Whether you are a new believer or an aged-saint God will prepare a table for us as we feast on the riches of His grace, He'll anoint our heads with His Spirit, and our cups will run over. We can't help but overflow with joy when we are in this way! Follow hard after goodness and mercy, goodness and mercy will then follow hard after you! And God's glory will increase in and through us!

"He must increase, WE must decrease!"