The story goes, a high school senior along with other young people from her church participated in some community service projects and gave a report to their local church. Afterwards the high school senior heard a man saying, “Aren’t you glad these kids aren’t out smoking pot or drinking, but are instead doing service for our community?”
That comment just broke my heart because there truly is a level of mediocrity that has infiltrated not just our culture, but our churches as well. Being considered a “good person” only requires that we don’t do “bad stuff” like taking drugs, drinking, and wild partying. But is it enough to be known for what we don’t do, or should we be known for what we do?
Psalm 1 tells us that “blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord on His law he meditates day and night.”
Charles Spurgeon comments, “Perhaps some of you can claim a sort of negative purity, because you do not walk in the way of the ungodly; but let me ask you–Is your delight in the law of God? Do you study God’s Word? Do you make it the man of your right hand–your best companion and hourly guide?” If not, he concludes, the blessing of Psalm 1 doesn’t belong to you.
God’s Word is clear that just “not sinning” is no standard. We’re not only called to “flee from lusts” but to “pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace.” We’re not only called to “put to death what is earthly in us” but to “put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” In order to reach God’s standard for his people and to enjoy the blessing that He promises, we must get beyond simply avoiding bad stuff. The Apostle Paul makes this calling clear when he writes, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”
We must be known for what we do. Not in order to be saved, but because we are saved; not in order to earn God’s favor, but with the favor of His help.
Filed under: Inspirational
The land of free huh? Well are truly blessed to belong to a nation where we are free and free to worship as we please. Though freedom deals greatly with the lives of the men and women dedicated to help maintain our freedom, freedom goes beyond what you would think of. I am talking about the freedom that we have in Christ Jesus!
In Colossians 2:13-14 the ESV states; “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive(Free!) together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” Because of the sin that diminished our lives we were in bondage(slaved) and the only way we could break the chains was for Christ to come and die on the cross. Christ freed us from enslavement to sin and recused us and made us whole again. Freedom takes a whole new meaning when Christ comes into your life and reveals that your freedom you have is now in Christ Jesus! Amazing!
Happy 4th of July!
After John writes, “His commandments are not burdensome,” he follows-up on that statement by saying, “for everyone born of God overcomes the world.” In other words, God’s commands are not burdensome because we have Christ dwelling in us. Thus not meaning that keeping his commands aren’t hard, just means that with Christ nothing is impossible and nothing is out of reach!
Filed under: Inspirational, Life Application, Pressing Issues | Tags: Six Flags is a nationally known fun amusement park but
Six Flags is a nationally known fun amusement park but this past weekend became the site in Georgia for the death of a 17 year old boy. The teen was decapitated after ignoring warning signs and scaling two set fences leading into a dangerous coaster area at Six Flags over Georgia. The teen was trying to retrieve a hat that had fallen off when he had riden the Batman ride earlier. After jumping the fence, he was struck by the coaster during its maximum operating speed of around 50 mph. No one else was injured.
Now you may be thinking, “yeah I had heard this but what is your point?” The point I am relaying is caution. We all chose the paths we take. Those paths may leads in the right way or the wrong but no matter where which we take we are always on a path. The bottom line is when you see a warning sign, turn around! In Proverbs 27:12 it says, “The prudent(wise) see danger and take refuge, but the simple(foolish) keep going and suffer for it!” Both, the wise and the foolish see the warning signs. Their responses to those sign however are different. When we see a caution sign, we have to make a decision. You either chose to act as the wise or the foolish. Paying every respect to the teen who passed away and to his family; he chose to ignore the warning signs and proceed anyway. God has a way of getting a hold of us though and if we choose the foolish way their will be consequences. In this case, a $15 hat cost him his life. The outcome for the foolish is they will suffer for it. The questions remains what path are you on? Do you need to turn around from the path your on? Are you willing to suffer the consequences from choosing the wrong path? God if you let him will guide you to the path you need to take. Your intention to take the right path may be great, but unless of course you are on the right path it means nothing. Your direction, not your intention, determines your destination! Don’t waste your life on the wrong path.
-Brian “Blankcheck” Preston
