Preferring God's Way

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another. Romans 12:10 (KJV)

I am discovering the many layers of Romans 12:10. For the past three or four days I have been meditating on the phrase ‘preferring one another.’ It has not only affected my thinking but my actions as well in regards to people. There are two aspects God wants me to see and apply.

The first aspect is that of deferring to others. Submitting to, regarding, and giving way to another person’s wishes, needs, and desires over my own. Accidents on the road happen when two vehicles simultaneously possess the same territory. If one vehicle does not give way they collide. Hence, injuries and damage will be the result. Preferring one another simply means I put the other person’s needs above my own. I look for what will convenience them, what will minister to them, what will encourage them.

The practical ways to carry this out each day are innumerable. It means letting others go first whether in traffic or in a line. It means putting away what I get out, picking up what I drop, and closing what I open. It can even mean putting away, picking up, and closing what another has gotten out, dropped, or opened. It means stopping what I am doing to be attentive to a person who needs to talk or needs my help. All day long I have a choice to do what I want to do or do what another person needs me to do for them. As God opens my eyes to the opportunities to flesh out this phrase it can bring variety, enjoyment, and even laughter to my day.

The second aspect was a surprise to me. Preferring also means to lead the way for others. In other words, make the first move! Whether it comes to showing kindness, initiating reconciliation, demonstrating concern, or acting out of love let me take the first step! The rewards are rich!

These are tall orders from a heavenly Father who has already shown me how it is done. While it is impossible for me to generate this behavior on my own, I know I can seek the desire, will, and ability from Him. For no command is ever given without His assistance to see it through to completion.

Father, my nature is such that I fight against the thought of preferring others. Help me to be more like You! Amen.

The End of Role Confusion

And the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. Acts 16:14b (NASB)
For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:13 (NASB)

Nothing happens in our life on a spiritual plane without God’s involvement and interaction. Whether it is in the area of our salvation, as in the case of Lydia, a business woman in the days of the Apostle Paul, or a person living out the Christian life. God does the opening of hearts and the working in hearts. Their part is to respond and cooperate. It is a partnership of profound measure!

Do you know someone who has yet to put their trust in Christ? Start praying Acts 16:14 over their life. While it is imperative that we continue to share biblical truths with them and plant seeds in the soil of their heart, God is the One who causes them to see, receive, and respond to the message of salvation. So your prayer for them on a daily basis can be something like this: God, open _______’s heart to respond to the things I am telling them. The responsibility falls back on God. The dependency is once again placed on God to do the active opening. We are simply the messengers. The seed sowers. May we stop taking on God’s role and learn to live as His co-laborers.

Do you know someone who is a Christian and yet still seems to live without a vital, daily connection to God? They DO all the right things but their spirit, temperament, attitude, conversations, and activities do not stem from a continual, deep relationship with God. Start praying Philippians 2:13 over their life on a daily basis. God, work in ___________ so he will desire and carry out the things that bring You pleasure. Yes, we can encourage and exhort as God leads, but the actual working still comes from God’s touch not ours.

So many of the people and things what we rely on as a catch all for another person’s spiritual needs are merely the tools God can use. He is still the One who does the actual heart work. How necessary it is that we see that and act accordingly. We have a part to play but it is not God’s position.

Father, may I never again confuse my role with Yours when it comes to another person’s salvation or Christianity. I now partner with You! Amen.

A Worthwhile Exchange

Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

This passage is not only an extravagant invitation, it is also full of promise! It is not intended to simply be a nice saying on a plaque or inscribed in a card, it is meant to be a life line for our daily lives. God desires for us to take Him up on His invitation and become the recipients of the rest that He offers. And yet, many of us live out our days without experiencing such a profound transaction of coming with burdens and leaving with rest.

I have often had the tendency to seek help, healing, and rest in other sources. Difficulties and problems frequently led me to call or email a friend. I wanted them to give me answers, make me feel better, cheer me up, give me assurance, and fix my life. They were not only my life line but my safety net. And through the years God has graciously allowed me to have such friends. But as long as I continued to turn to them with my tears, questions, and hurts I was stunting my own growth and relationship with my heavenly Father. I was better equipped to hear their voice rather than God’s voice. At the moment it felt better but over time it left me handicapped. This falls short of God’s intent for me!

I am presently facing a battle that involves other people’s hearts. I know things will get harder before they get easier. Last night found me on my knees pleading for wisdom and discernment. Did I have the thought of emailing a wise counselor and asking advice? For a brief moment. But then like a ray of sunshine the thought occurred to me, “I don’t need __________, she really can’t help me. I need You, God.” And today’s passage came to life for me. God and I have work to do but we are finally doing it together! It is His way of maturing my faith, infusing me with confidence in Himself, and nurturing the deepest parts of me. I gladly exchange the burdens for rest!

Father, we were not meant to carry the things that weigh us down. As I slip into the yoke of Your presence this morning may the ramifications astound me! Amen.

Stories That Serve a Purpose

You who are far away, hear what I have done; and you who are near, acknowledge My might. Isaiah 33:13 NASB

I have a friend with whom I could listen to for hours and never tire of her stories. When she speaks I pay close attention to her words because I want to gain insight into her life. I walk away from each conversation knowing more of how God has worked in her life. It restores the hope in me that God is working in my life as well.

God puts a lot of stock in the importance of learning about Him and His work. Whether it is something I hear from His Word, a sermon, a friend, a book, or a song, as I take in the messages my view of God is enlarged. God wants me to be attentive and alert to the things He wants to teach me about Himself. That is one reason we have the wonderful accounts in Scripture recorded for us. His Word is His own testimony of His character as well as His accomplishments. But He did not stop when the last verse was written.

Each of us have stories to tell of how God intersected our world at pivotal moments. Those stories are meant to be shared...whether with one individual or many. Each time I hear of God's mighty work in someone's life, His intent is that I would know the same God is at work in me. When I see Him turn impossible situations to favorable ones in the lives of others, my faith is boosted that there is still hope for my own situation.

But it doesn't stop with hearing about His works. It is then imperative to acknowledge what I've heard. The stories are most affective when I take what I hear, agree with it, and see God's right and authority to act on my behalf. To begin to take notice of what He has done, is doing, and will do in my life, is to begin on a journey of great proportion.

So what are the things I acknowledge about God today? When I hear another's story, what revelation of God will be a result of it? The word acknowledge has the word knowledge in it. This reminds me that I must first be aware of something before I can truly acknowledge it.

Father, my ears are open to hear You today. Your voice will travel through many vehicles to reach me. May I be attentive to all You have to say. Amen.

Separated But Not Apart

For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ. Colossians 2:5

Paul was a person who knew how to stay connected with the people of faith. Many of his epistles were written from prison and yet he was able to express a closeness and a love for his fellow believers even though they were separated by many miles. They were in his thoughts, his heart, and his prayers. His joy came from knowing they were growing in their faith and firm in their relationship with God. While he could not be with them in person he could still be with them in spirit and that is one of the most encouraging and beautiful aspects of the Christian life.

I am a very social person. I love getting together with friends over lunch or being in their home for a day or two. The fellowship of believers is something I enjoy immensely. But separation is a difficult thing for me. While God would bring incredible people into my life it seemed I only had their presence for a short time. I often joke with people and say when I get close to a person, God tends to move them out of state! He knows my tendency toward dependency and even idolatry. Relying on Him is easier done when the ones I would cling to are far removed.

How encouraging it is to know that while we are apart from each other, Paul’s words express our sentiments toward each other. This morning, God has used this verse to encourage me. I have several very significant people whom I miss a lot. Sometimes our ability to get together is separated by years! But God is letting me know that what Paul is saying in Colossians 2:5 is the very heart of how we feel toward each other. Former mentors of mine are thinking of me, praying for me, and rejoicing to see God’s work in me. And when they enter my mind it is always cause for rejoicing and thanksgiving for the part they played in my life. I also know that God continues to use them in the lives of others.

So while I long to see them and miss them deeply I am resting in the fact that we still share a closeness and connection. Miles and time may separate our bodies but NOTHING separates our spirit.

Father, You have caused some incredible people to cross my path. The mere thought of them brings me joy. Thank you for our continued togetherness. Amen.

A Change of Relationship

And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach. Colossians 1:21,22

I love the beauty of the word ‘reconciled’ and it is so profound in this verse. It means to be made right, become friends, and brought together. Look at the comparison of words….formerly alienated, hostile, and evil deeds presented holy, blameless, and beyond reproach! Makes me wonder how I could have ever thought of God as tolerating me more than loving me. When a person puts their trust in Christ they enter into a whole new relationship with God. They go from being His enemy to His precious child (Romans 5:10). Where once they were far away from God they are brought near (Ephesians 2:3,12).

Many people are under the assumption that because God created each one of us we automatically are His children….hence the idea of the Fatherhood of God. Not true! Because of Adam and Eve’s sin in the garden we are all born separated from God….alienated if you will. We are foreigners to Him and His ways. Because we were created in His image we may possess some good qualities ….kindness, love, compassion, etc… But there is no relationship with Him. The Bible says we are children of wrath not children of God.

Many people believe they are Christians because they go to church, love their neighbor, or attempt to keep the ten commandments. What they fail to realize is that none of those things make you a Christian. They are commendable things but unable to bring you into right relationship with God. There is only one way to become God’s child and that is by being born into His family. And a person is born into God’s family when he trusts Christ and accepts Him as his Savior. His death on Calvary and subsequent resurrection made it possible for people to be reconciled to God. But they must personally accept Him before that takes place. May we take the opportunities to share that with them.

Father, our reconciliation is a beautiful thing. You drew me near and now call me your daughter. May our Father/daughter relationship continue to be profound. Amen.

A Change of Kingdoms

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son. Colossians 1:13

Whether or not we are fully aware of it, much takes place the moment we trust Christ as our Savior and Colossians 1:13 is an explanation for all the change. A couple nights ago I was talking with one of my brothers and in the course of the conversation I was telling him the things that instantly changed in me when I became a Christian. These were things that had not previously been a part of my life. Here are the changes that came to mind: I had an assurance of Heaven, I had a desire to read the Bible, I had an awareness that my sin offended a holy God, I wanted to be in church and fellowship with believers, I had new ambitions and new desires, I was accountable to God, my mindset was different, and I was able to understand spiritual truths. What a change from the way I spent my first 14 years!

At the time, I did not understand I had been taken out from under the authority and rule of Satan and brought into God’s kingdom, rule, and authority. As a matter of fact, I did not even know those two kingdoms existed but they did. Prior to my salvation I was actually living under the philosophy, mindset, and dominion of God’s enemy. I had a blindness and disinterest in anything that pertained to God. I was ruled by my flesh with a strong propensity toward sin. Even though I was created in the image of God I was not displaying that in my actions, words, or thoughts. Although I was not a Satan worshiper per se, I was one of his captives.

But that captivity ended when Christ became my Savior. He not only brought me into His family but He transferred me into His kingdom as well. Under His authority and care I was able to live my life differently. Being in Christ made me a new person and the old way of life gave way to a new way of life. This included a new way of thinking, acting, speaking, and living. It did not mean perfection….that will not be attained until I am in Heaven. It meant a life of progress one step at a time. I have made my share of mistakes along the way, blown it in many ways, and misunderstood countless things. BUT God’s hand has never let go of me, His eye has never been taken off me, and His kingdom has remained my place of residence.

Father, I thrive under Your rule, care, and authority. I am at home with this kingdom life. Thank you for placing me under Your domain. Amen.