Tag: Obedience

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Little Decisions

“What is always true is that the decisions we make today determine the stories we tell about our lives tomorrow” – Craig Groeschel, Divine Direction.

Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

It is easy to point to the grand decisions in our life as having the most impact on our future. What we many times miss is that it was the many small decisions that proceeded the grand decision that set the stage. Decisions about marriage, jobs, or education start with the small decisions made innocuously in the past. Invisible decisions are so ingrained in our existence that we have long forgotten they were decisions.

James 4:17, “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is a sin.”

What story do you want others to tell about your life? We are not talking about the story you want to tell, but the story others will tell after you are gone. What things in your life will overshadow your service to Christ? What will be mentioned before they talk about your good works or dedication to Christ? What are all the small decisions you have made that will counterbalance the big decision?

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ― Maya Angelou

2 Corinthians 1:17, “Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”? “

I’m sorry, folks, I can’t get over the waste in humanity. All of those people walking the face of the earth living substandard lives thinking they have made it. People whose greatness is shrouded by the perceptions of the world. We compromise, not knowing we are planting the seeds of an unfulfilled life.

Genesis 4:7, “If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”

There are countless examples of small decisions leading to mundane, soul-crushing vanilla lives that we count as blessings. We go along to get a long hoping that being part of someone else’s plan will prosper us. We long for more extraordinary things deep inside, but we picked the wrong road. We took what we thought was a shortcut to success and found ourselves in a cul-de-sac of unfulfilled dreams. These small decisions raised the price of success until it almost seemed unattainable.

Proverbs 16: 1-2, “To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue. All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.”

The great news is almost too good to be true. We have heard it a hundred times, but it always applied to others. Who God made you have never changed. Your past decision has not altered God’s plan for your life. It may have made its destination further away, but no less rewarding or attainable.

Romans 8:28, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

If you start paying attention to the small decisions facing you daily, the big decision will take care of themselves. But if you focus only on big decisions, you will find few options. Your God is not just the God of the grandiose, but the God of the mundane. Call on Him in every situation.

2 Thessalonians 3:13, “But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.”

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Being in the Who’s Who of the Bible

The Bible is full of stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. The stories weren’t stories like many of the best sellers we read today, they are real people, leading real lives, during desperate times.  To get a mention in the Bible is itself extraordinary, but their acts were not supernatural or over-the-top; they were somewhat mundane. Let me give you a few examples.

Jochebed (Exodus 6:20), the mother of Moses, if she did not decide to put Moses in a reed basket to save his life, he would not have delivered Israel from the Egyptians. I’m sure that Jochebed did not contemplate God’s deliverance of the Jews from the Pharaohs at the time. Ruth (Ruth) pledged to follow Naomi and worship her God. From this act, she eventually married Boaz, giving birth to an ancestor of King David, whose descendant was Jesus Christ. Esther (Ester), having lost her parents, entrusted to an uncle, and banished to a pagan land, saved the Jewish people from destruction. Ananias (Acts 9:10-14) was directed by God to minister to the deadliest enemy of the Christian faith at that time; Saul.

There are more such people mentioned in the Bible. People who God gave a simple task that ultimately changed Christianity. Most of these people had no idea of the impact they would have. Most were doing what they thought was proper but not extraordinary.

I also think of others like Agur, who wrote a beautiful prayer in Psalms (Proverbs 30:7-9), or the famous prayer of Jabez, which is only 33 words long (1 Chronicles 4:10). None of these people were looking for notoriety or fame. None of them set out to make a mark in history. Instead, they all sought the pleasure of God.

How do we become a people of Biblical proportions? How do we live our life so that we will be known when the end of days comes? These people did not live extraordinary lives blessed by God. They were not the movers and shakers of their time. They did not measure the ramifications of their acts; they just obeyed.

FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE

Ephesians 5:1-2, “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

How do you live your life? Most of us become caught up in the day-to-day grind. We don’t think about its significance; life is a series of stimuli and responses. We are like Pavlov’s dog, reacting rather than living. Being proactive in life requires taking a risk.

Ephesians 3:17, “May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”

We are filled with all the fullness of life and power of God. To be in the Who’s Who of the Bible, we need to follow Christ’s example. We need to take courageous and improvisational risks. We should consciously seek out those in need and courageously take the risk to love them. Our day planners and commitments need to take the second chair to look for and react to God working through us for others. You don’t have to author a worldwide revival; we need to show compassion where compassion is missing.

REDEEMING YOUR TIME

Ephesians 5:15-16, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil.”

I pray that your time is long and your joys are many, but we do not know until the end. We should live our lives as if this day was the last day we have to share the Gospel. This day may be the last chance to tell our family, friends, or neighbors how much God loves them and wants them as part of His family. Today we need to correct a wrong, forgive the past and show compassion to someone in need.

Job 9:25-26, “My days are swifter than a runner; they flee away; they see no good. They go by like skiffs of reed, like an eagle swooping on the prey.”

Many people I know wish they had one more moment with a loved one that has passed. They want to share one more conversation; they want to say I love you one more time. KiKi King, an instrumentalist, once said at a TEDTalk, (paraphrased) time goes on to eternity behind us, time goes on to eternity before us making this moment seem insignificant. But this moment is all I have. So, I will live this moment as if it was the most significant moment of my life at this time.

Matthew 6:34, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

If you want to be in the Who’s Who of the Bible, you have to use each moment as if it was the last and most significant moment of your life.

ALWAYS GIVING THANKS

Ephesians 5:20-21, “Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

Giving thanks is the frosting on the cake. Recognizing God is the difference between a good person and a righteous person. If we show loving, caring compassion toward everyone and do not credit the author of our story, then we have done nothing of value. God is the Alpha and the Omega; everything starts and ends with Him. Everyone we come in contact with must know this. Our life must center on and radiate out from Christ. The light in the darkness we shine is not our light but a reflection of His light. Our humility is genuine because we understand the power of the one who sent us. We accomplish all things through Christ.

Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Our story is never going to be amended to the Bible. But there will come a time when we will have to face Jesus to account for our faith. So, while there is still time, please make the most of it. Take courageous impetuous risks, knowing God has your back.

1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.”

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A Gift Worthy for a King

I was loading more music for my car today and fell down a rabbit hole. I have a media server with more than 60,000 songs collected over the last 60 years; it went from records to cassettes to compact discs to solid-state drives. It is about every genre. I listened to the song In Christ Alone by Christina Grimmie, and the rabbit hole opened up.

She was about 15 when she recorded it. She was a neat kid and a great Christian. Initially, she only performed on YouTube with almost 4 million followers. Later on, she stared on The Voice and rose to an acceptable level of fame. Then, on June 10, 2016, Christina Grimmie was fatally shot at the age of 22 while signing autographs following a concert performance at The Plaza Live in Orlando, Florida. Her assailant committed suicide, leaving no evidence of motive, only speculation.

Every time I hear this song, I can’t help but think about what could have been. I do not doubt that God cried on that day. Not because it was unexpected or unknown, but because the world would lose out on an extraordinary talent. I understand that God uses all things for His glory. We, the ones left behind, lose a light illuminating the darkness. Six years after her death, people like me are still affected. People like me ask this one fundamental question.

If my life was asked of me today, and my greatest passion in life was laid at the feet of Christ would He weep because of a life cut short or because of a life lived unfulfilled?

When Jesus heard that Lazarus had died, He wept.

John 11:35, “Jesus wept.”

As He was entering Jerusalem before His crucifixion, He wept.

Luke 19:41, “And when he came near, he beheld the city, and wept over it.”

When I look at the passions of my heart, what do I see? How do I invest my time, money, and gifts? What do I think about when I go to sleep at night? What books do I read, what podcast do I listen to, and what discussions do I gravitate toward? What’s my passion?

When I lay that passion at the feet of Christ, how would he react? Is it a worthy gift for a King?

“If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.” – Anonymous 1926 Methodist church announcement.

Isaiah 1:17, “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”

We all have a desire to have meaning and worth. We all create a unique sphere of influence to leave our mark. If we don’t have purposeful intent, we will be part of someone else’s meaning and worth. Chart your course. Through prayer, scripture, and Godly counsel, find your path. Once you have found it, own it; make it meaningful. Don’t worry about results, only obedience. It’s not about creating a ripple through eternity; it’s about creating a tsunami. Never sell yourself short. Never let the world determine your worth. You are more than the sum of your experiences.

Some people, maybe even most, would equate passion with calling. They might say that we are called to something by God, which becomes our passion. I add a slight nuance to that. I believe our calling is to a people group; it might be children, young adults, inner-city or a foreign country. Our passion is the gifting we use to execute our calling; we may be teachers, artists, musicians, or leaders. Our calling may change over time as we mature. God will send us in a different direction. Our gifting, and passion, may vary when we are younger as we experience new things, but at some point, it comes to rest on something. The problem is that we often don’t know how to use our passion to make a living and minimize its importance. We see the value of God’s calling on our life, but not necessarily our passion.

J. I. Packer, in his book “A Quest for Godliness,” stated, “a half-truth masquerading as the whole truth becomes a complete untruth.” Therefore, don’t deceive yourself concerning who you are. When you lie to yourself about any aspect of who God made you, you degrade all of who God said you are.

1 Corinthians 7:17, “Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them.”

My greatest hope is that we all find our passion that glorifies God and chase it all the days of our life; that we take the riches that God has created within us and use them to praise Him. My primary passion is small business development. My current calling is to help impoverished third-world Christians rise above their poverty. I have secondary passions like black and white photography, the outdoors, and listening to music. All of our passions should be to glorify our King. Secondary passions are the ones we hold with an open hand. Our primary passion is the gift we set as His feet; it is the first fruits of our existence. It is what gets us up in the morning and lulls us to sleep at night.

Micah 6:8, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good and what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Christina Grimmie found and chased her passion throughout her short life. She did not wait for a better time or more clear direction. She didn’t wait for her passion to be discovered; she put herself out there. Her life was cut short by what still seems like a senseless act, but her impact continues. People like me, and maybe you, ask ourselves; Do we use our passion to present a worthy gift to our King? She did. Will you? If you do, the ground will shift on the ocean floor and the tsunami will rise.

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New Year – New Life

Night and day, winter and summer, oceans ebb and tide, the heart contract and relaxes; resolve to live life in cadence with God’s grace.

Hebrews 12: 1-2, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

You can resolve to Fail

Over the years, we have been indoctrinated to the concept of a new year, new life. We take this time to rediscover our passions and direction. There is nothing magic about January first, but it has become the launch point for personal change over the years. 

A study by Strava of 31.5 million participants showed that most people abandon their New Years’ resolutions by the second Tuesday of January. A companion study by The Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment discovered that 55% of resolutions are abandoned by February first. The term” Failure to Launch” comes to mind. The world is made of great ideas that are never implemented, plans that are written and never executed, and good intentions that never see the light of day. Why?

You can resolve to be Good

Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

I think it comes down to head versus heart. We can logically and rationally determine a path forward that our heart is not committed to accomplishing. The pain of changing who we are is greater than remaining as we were. It would be great to chase our passions, but fundamentally we are comfortable being who we are.

It is far more comfortable to conform to the world than to rise above it. We understand that it would be pleasing to God if we did rise above, but is the theoretical promise of eternity better than the world’s comfort? I’m not talking about embracing immorality and unethical behaviors; I’m talking about settling down on our haunches and letting the activities of the world waff over us. It is the passive acceptance of a life that does not please God.

Being good is an admirable worldly trait but doesn’t fundamentally buy anything. Goodness should be an attribute of all Christians and an aspiration of all people. Being a Godly person is the goal. Striving to lead a life that pleases God is the ultimate destination; goodness is a mile marker.

You can resolve to be Great

Isaiah 40:31, “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.”

In his book “Good to Great,” Jim Collins states: “Good is the enemy of great. And that is one of the key reasons why we have so little that becomes great.” So few people translate the plans in their heads to the passion of their hearts. They are willing to accept a good life rather than work at a great life.

Eternal greatness always starts and ends with obedience to God’s call. It is being the person God made you be. It is pushing His Kingdom forward and leaving our kingdom behind. Where is your heart?

The bible defines three attributes of a more prosperous life.

Bios: Bios (bios) is the physiology; properly, God’s gift of physical life, animating all creation to live, move and have its being.

Psyche: Psyche (psuché) is the breath of life, the human soul, the soul as the seat of affections and will, the self, a human person, an individual.

Zoe: Zoe (dzo-ay’) is life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, even in this world, for those who put their trust in Christ. The part of us that cannot live without God.

It is always good to resolve to improve your physical or mental health. Your cry should be for a life based on Zoe, an active, vigorous life dedicated to God. Resolve to use every resource God has given you to bring Him glory beyond what the world encourages? Can you resolve to use your education, job, position, friends, family, and even your vacation as a testimony to God’s greatness? What does your resolve put first?

Be a child of God.

Ephesians 4:22-24, “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

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Created for this Moment

Esther 4:14, “Perhaps this is the moment for which you have been created.”

I have always found this comment my Mordecai enlightening. It is one of those hand slap to forehead kind of things.

GOD’S PLAN

The story of Ester is fascinating because it shows the length God will go to prepare people. Ester’s journey from the exile of the Jews under Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, to Mordecai’s adoption after her family’s death, to the disposition of Queen Vashti, to Ester’s selection and favor under Hagia, to her acceptance by King Xerxes was planned by God so that he could save His people and eventually rebuild Jerusalem.

Talk about God having a long view of things. Ester is precisely where God wanted her; at the exact moment the Jews needed someone in her position. But God also made an important pronouncement about this opportunity. “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place.”

Two things we need to take from this; you are where God wants you, and if you don’t act, God will use someone else.

MODERN DAY ESTER

I love the story of Ester. I can relate to so many aspects of her journey. You see, I like nice clean, well-thought-out, concisely articulated plans. No, I’m good with the reality that plans change; but you can’t change a plan you never had. That’s my thinking anyway. Life, on the other hand, is the story of Ester.

A modern-day correlation to Ester would be; parents move out of state before your senior year of high school, you have to go to an in-state college in a state you don’t like, you end up in a job after college you don’t like, you get passed over for promotion time, and time again, you finally land your dream promotion after being mentored by one of the big guns at work, and you are given a career crushing assignment. Then God says, “You were created for just this moment.”

All you hear is the sound of a toilet flush as your future does a swirly down the drain.

I love Ester; she sucks it up, puts her life on the line, and charges ahead. Carpe Diem. I guess I am a sucker for heroes and heroines, not the too dumb to know I’m in over my head type, but the “boy that’s going to leave a mark” type. Ester understood what her decision meant to her and what it meant to God and chose God.

RECOGNIZING OUR MOMENT

Most of us spend a lifetime preparing for moments that never come. We gain knowledge and skills, we save and invest, and we acquire worldly things that we will ultimately leave to others. For the most part, I don’t think we do this as an act of self-reliance or greed; I don’t think we know any better. The future is this big unknown.

Do you think Ester was focused on God’s plan for her life when her parents died; did she believe that exile seemed like the expressway to God’s purpose? Do you think it might have been a little scary being chosen as part of the King’s court, knowing his reputation? I don’t know, but I would guess that Ester felt either abandoned or at least shuttled off on a spur somewhere.

Philip. 1:6, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

KNOWING GOD

God does not waste effort. God does not play games to see what we can bear. We all have times when we can only shake our heads and say, “what was that all about?”. God is true to His promise. He will not forsake you or abandon you. Pay attention to everything that happens in your life; there will be a test. He will use the people, places, and experience of your life to advance His Kingdom.

For most of us, it will not be rebuilding Jerusalem; it will be saving a life; performing some innocuous, simple, mundane act of overwhelming kindness.  Saving one life for eternity outweighs the building of an entire city of gold. The city will fade, its splendor conquered by time, but an eternity in the presence of God never fades.

Part of knowing your purpose is to be ready to execute when the time comes. Do not spend a lifetime preparing for something that may never happened. Remember, Mordecai, warned, “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place.”

Luke 19:26, “to those who use well what they are given, even more, will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.”

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