ay before us. Let's see what we can do to make it a productive day as we seek to honor God and help others. I've been teaching a brief series in my Sunday morning Bible study on the subject of: Seeking to live the life God would have me to live in 2009. The theme has been: It's about time in 2009! We have been working our way through passages that speak about the life God has given to us and the EXPECTATIONS He has from us and the resources He has entrusted to us. If it's one thing most of us are not too fond of it is when people begin to talk about what is expected of us. Unfortunately, this is true even when we deal with God's expectations and His right to expect from us certain responses, actions, duties, and a lifestyle worthy of the calling He has placed on our lives. It's easy for us to drift into an unconscious fog where we see ourselves mostly as volunteers in the Lord's army where we can serve or not serve, go or not go, or just sit on the sidelines (warming the pew) and observe others as they are engaged on the battlefield of life.
This may be how it works in practice but this is not even close to God's will regarding our life. First and foremost, if we are a believer in the only way to God, that being the Lord Jesus Christ and His atoning work on our behalf on the cross, and if we have called upon Him to save us, then we have what God calls a 'new' life. That new life belongs to the One who bought us out of our bondage to sin. Therefore, He has every right over His very own blood bought children to expect things out of the new life He has given to us. It is a struggle to respond to these expectations because God in His wisdom saved us but left our 'forever saved' new life in our fleshly
constructed bodies. This means there is tension between the 'old' me and the 'new' me regarding which one I will yield myself to. God gives us the power through His sent and indwelling Holy Spirit to respond to His calling but we must do battle every day with that 'old' person nature that continues to want his way in our life. God did this for His own purpose for when we do yield to His calling and we do His will, He alone receives the deserved honor and glory from our life. (The book of Romans examines these issues in great detail.)
constructed bodies. This means there is tension between the 'old' me and the 'new' me regarding which one I will yield myself to. God gives us the power through His sent and indwelling Holy Spirit to respond to His calling but we must do battle every day with that 'old' person nature that continues to want his way in our life. God did this for His own purpose for when we do yield to His calling and we do His will, He alone receives the deserved honor and glory from our life. (The book of Romans examines these issues in great detail.)Expectations. What exactly is it that God wants you to do? What exactly is it that God wants me to d
o? This was how Saul of Tarsus (the Apostle Paul) responded whenever He came face to face with the Lord he had previously been persecuting, "Lord, what will you have me to do?" This is the question you and I should be asking as we face a new year and a new opportunity to get serious about the life that God has given to us. He makes it clear that in addition to being saved He has a plan for our life which includes the exercise of His gifts in our life along with the talent, testimony, treasure, and the TIME He has provided for us. These things come from Him, therefore, we owe our response regarding them back to Him as we seek to use any and all resources to bring honor and glory to Him. This may sound like a calling to a monastic lifestyle in contrast to how many if not most see personal responsibilities before God. It really has lit
tle to do with any limitations because God always has His honor and glory in mind along with His best for our life, therefore, whatever it is He would have us to be doing, then we can be assured of it being the very best life we could ever hope for when we find ourselves doing those very things! Simple? Hardly! A battle? Every single day! But, finding our place in His Kingdom doing whatever it is He has called and equipped us to do is where we will find our fulfillment in earning that greatest of all titles, Servant of the Living God! Amen. ......More later.
o? This was how Saul of Tarsus (the Apostle Paul) responded whenever He came face to face with the Lord he had previously been persecuting, "Lord, what will you have me to do?" This is the question you and I should be asking as we face a new year and a new opportunity to get serious about the life that God has given to us. He makes it clear that in addition to being saved He has a plan for our life which includes the exercise of His gifts in our life along with the talent, testimony, treasure, and the TIME He has provided for us. These things come from Him, therefore, we owe our response regarding them back to Him as we seek to use any and all resources to bring honor and glory to Him. This may sound like a calling to a monastic lifestyle in contrast to how many if not most see personal responsibilities before God. It really has lit
tle to do with any limitations because God always has His honor and glory in mind along with His best for our life, therefore, whatever it is He would have us to be doing, then we can be assured of it being the very best life we could ever hope for when we find ourselves doing those very things! Simple? Hardly! A battle? Every single day! But, finding our place in His Kingdom doing whatever it is He has called and equipped us to do is where we will find our fulfillment in earning that greatest of all titles, Servant of the Living God! Amen. ......More later.
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