THE THING THAT YOU VALUE MOST WILL DETERMINE THE COURSE OF YOUR LIFE. IS IT GOD ?
We live in a world that seems to continually push us to place our trust and value in everything but God. In fact, God is often an afterthought in today’s progressive enlightenment process and in fact is often flatly rejected. It is incumbent upon mankind to reject the past and our foundational values and true morality to replace them with new ideas and fresh solutions. Time to replace and renew old and tired norms. That fast flowing river of culture just wants to suck you in the moment your feet dare to touch its mighty flow. Hesitation will only open you up to criticism and ridicule; perhaps even vilification and rejection. WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN TO DO ? The TRUTH IS, each of us must make a decision. WHAT DO WE VALUE THE MOST ? Is our belief in Christ THE most important foundation of our life and are we living that out, or are we lying to ourselves and really valuing other things much more deeply. Ultimately, THIS is our most challenging struggle, because God demands our complete conviction and obedience. We know what scripture says about a lukewarm faith, and it does not bode well for us. All of us have a core group of perceived responsibilities, and most of these are truly good and of solid merit. Providing, Working hard, stewarding assets, helping others; on the surface these are all admirable. Our problems come when we begin to value what they produce for us individually and how we perceive their value to us is when things begin to go sideways. The possibilities are endless. Money, fame, recognition, zealotry, power, influence, and even empathy and fear of judgement even when righteous ! It all comes down to the simple fact that What We Value We Will Worship And Place ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE, and we will ACT IN A MANNER TO ELEVATE IT AND PRIORITIZE IT. When we were simply fallen men and women, this was truly who we were. THEN WE EMBRACED THE GRACE OF THE GOSPEL…AND EVERYTHING SHOULD BE DIFFERENT ! WE are a NEW CREATION. BORN AGAIN.
PRAISE BE TO GOD AND THE FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ! IN HIS GREAT MERCY HE HAS GIVEN US NEW BIRTH INTO A LIVING HOPE THROUGH THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST FROM THE DEAD. 1 Peter 1:3
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. Proverbs 3:5-6
YOU WERE TAUGHT WITH REGARD TO YOUR FORMER WAY OF LIFE, TO PUT OFF YOUR OLD SELF WHICH IS BEING CORRUPTED BY IT’S DECEITFUL DESIRES; TO BE MADE NEW IN THE ATTITUDE OF YOUR MINDS; AND PUT ON THE NEW SELF, CREATED TO BE LIKE GOD IN TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS. Ephesians 4:22-24
Each of us must decide What We Value Most, and truly make an effort with CONVICTION to push through the struggles and temptations and FIND THE TRUE PATH and honor it. It will never be easy on our own, but WE ARE NOT ALONE ! Jesus is walking beside us, and we MUST SEEK HIS STRENGTH AND ENDURANCE. On our own we will falter, but we must remember that He Abides In Us And Us In Him.That means HIS POWER IS WITH US ALWAYS. It is Our Choice to succumb to His Will and Wisdom. Our Choice to PUT HIM FIRST, and thereby live according to His Ways and Character. We will take our stumbles and falls, but we must get up and move forward on His Path. This is when we truly look inside ourselves and “Search Our Hearts”. Do we desire GOD ENOUGH TO CHANGE AND BATTLE FOR OUR PLACE IN HIS KINGDOM ? No more masks and no more false pretenses. I AM HIS, OR I AM NOT ! There can be no more important decision in our life than to either be HIS, or be on our own. ETERNALLY ALIVE…..or simply DEAD. It is just that simple. Up or Down. Saved or Lost. Alive or Dead. ETERNALLY.
“IT IS CHRIST WHO LIVES IN ME”. “I AM CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST AND IT IS NO LONGER I WHO LIVE, BUT IT IS CHRIST WHO LIVES IN ME; AND THE LIFE WHICH I NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH I LIVE IN FAITH, THE FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD, WHO LOVED ME AND GAVE HIMSELF UP FOR ME. “ Galatians 2:20
JESUS SAID TO HER, “I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE. WHOEVER BELIEVES IN ME, THOUGH HE DIE, YET SHALL HE LIVE, AND EVERYONE WHO LIVES AND BELIEVES IN ME SHALL NEVER DIE. DO YOU BELIEVE THIS ?” John 11: 25-26
YOU KEEP HIM IN PERFECT PEACE WHOSE MIND IS STAYED ON YOU, BECAUSE HE TRUSTS IN YOU. Isaiah 26:3
Have you come to a crossroads ? What Do You Value Most ? Are you being True to yourself and most importantly To God ? Pray deeply that Jesus will help you in your decision and any struggles. Wrestle on it with God and ask HIS WILL BE DONE. The beautiful thing about following Jesus is that He Too knows the makeup of mankind, because He shared that with us, He Lived It Also, but He Overcame It All and so can we if We Are His:) Settling your values and priorities will open your eyes and ears to what the world and it’s values truly are….a path to foolishness, wrong choices, and destruction. When God created mankind, it wasn’t a fairy tale or a myth. No “once upon a time”, or “the story goes that”….it was simply “ IN THE BEGINNING GOD”. HE IS REAL. HE IS YOUR HOPE. HE LOVES YOU….Put Him First and get busy prioritizing your values ! BE BLESSED IN CHRIST/JAA
FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. John 3:16
BELIEVE IT !