Discovering what love is one day at a time
When you were a kid, did you ever make excuses for why you couldn’t participate in gym? “I can’t I have a headache…, It’s raining, I don’t feel well, I twisted my ankle, and I didn’t bring my tennis shoes…, ” (When you knew full well at home that it was a gym day…) Just like kids, we as adults can make excuses for not living up to the potential that God has for us in Jesus Christ. Christ in you…the hope of Glory.
Have you benched yourself? Are you refusing to live the life that God has for you? We all can choose to make excuses for not obeying /listening/hearing the voice of the Lord. We know from our own life experiences that we will have many troubles, but we are told to consider it pure joy. God‘s Word tells us this in James, because the testing of our faith produces patience. It further goes on to say, but let patience have its perfect work that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. This is the endurance, the patience to be able to stand, to rest in the promises of God, despite the chaos surrounding us. It happens when we allow the grace of God to chasten us, grow us and transform us, penetrating our heart, mind and will. Our failure to keep pace with what God’s grace wants to do in our lives can result in bitterness in us which causes trouble with others. We are to guard our hearts from our own falling away. Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled. So often we “bench” ourselves, and sit on the sidelines of our own life, because, sometimes keeping pace with God’s grace hurts. Sitting on the bench is choosing not to trust the Word of God, however trusting our own past experiences, feelings or desires. We choose to let those things rule and exalt themselves over the knowledge of God, instead of allowing the Lord to sanctify us, and allowing Him to enable us to endure. We instead build up a tolerance in our lives that causes us more harm than good. (I’ll tell you that for free.) Were you ever “benched” in sports? Was it because of your attitude, or your lack of effort? God called Cain on his offering in Genesis 4: “Why are you angry and your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at your door, and its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” Cain didn’t respond to God with the right heart, and it caused a root of bitterness in his own heart. Not only that, but Cain tolerated his own bitterness, so much that he murdered His brother. Hebrews 12:25 warns us “see to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven.” There is no “bench” in the Kingdom of God…In organized sports, you may have been “benched”, because you “weren’t good enough to start,” but because of Jesus Christ, His death & resurrection we are fully accepted into the Kingdom. The only way you can be “benched” is if you refuse His Salvation. Are you keeping pace with God’s great grace?
1 Comment
3/23/2020 07:40:30 pm
Keeping pace is what you need to do right now. If you do not pace yourself, then you will just tire out. I mean, burn out is a serious issue, but most people do not believe in them. There are people who only know how to work hard, and that is what makes me made to my core. We need to learn how to go and take care of ourselves, it is not that easy, you just need to pace yourself.
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AuthorI have been married to my wonderful husband for 29 years. We have two young men ages 25 and 20.. This blog is somewhat of a journal and attempt for me to remind myself of my purpose and invite others to join me in keeping an eternal perspective as we move through each day. Archives
May 2023
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