Is Your Life Comfortable?
Insight Into Scripture
Delight yourself in the LORDand He will give you the desires of your heart. - Psalm 37:4
Book 2 Chapters 42-72
Good Morning! The verse above is one of my favorite's. Yes, I have a lot of them, but this one truly means alot to me because I have/am living it. It is very true! Today's devotional is a little different and I hope that you like it. :)
Thought for the Day
I have to tell you a story that happened to me today, and through this story you might be challenged or maybe it will confirm some things for you.
My parents are visiting us, they got into town on Saturday. We are having a wonderful time with them, and when they come visit with us, spending time with them is my priority. Sunday we went to church, the beach, fellowship, and ate dinner. When they left I knew that I had about 3 hours worth of work still to complete, plus doing this devotional.
My first thought was to not do the devotional, I know that all of you would understand, and I know that Jesus would understand? Right? I started to feel guilty, like maybe Jesus would punish me, or maybe He would be mad at me. Then I started to think that I do not want to do it just because I do not want Him mad at me with the fear of punishment. I was torn on what to do. While I was doing some of my busy work for our business I had two thoughts, and maybe these will speak to you or maybe you will find yourself fitting into one or the other.
We should not do things out of fear for Christ. GOD is not a GOD of fear, HE is a GOD of love. We should do things for Him because we LOVE him, serve Him, and have this sense of appreciation for the huge sacrifice that He made for us.
Being a Christian is not living a life of comfort. Yes, we do have times of comfort and peace, but if your life is all comfort, I would question, are you living the life GOD called you to live. GOD pushes us to grow here on earth and in our faith with HIM, and in my experiences, growing can be uncomfortable and sometimes painful.
GOD does not live our 9 to 5 work life schedule, HE lives in a realm that I am sure would amaze me. So, GOD I am sure will call you to do something that will not be the best time for you, but it is the best time for HIM. And I know that GOD will call you to do something for HIM, HE will meet you there. Like this devotional, I do love my sleep and comfort, BUT, I love Jesus more. I know that someday I will be in the presence of Jesus and I want to hold my head up high, and KNOW in my heart, that I stepped out of my comfort zone and did things that HE wanted me to do.
The other thought is that I have seen people use the principle above to hide from their problems. For example they have a problem with their marriage and instead of fixing it, they serve in the church while their marriage falls apart. This is not what GOD wants! Yes, HE wants you to serve, but getting a divorce is not in HIS plan. Your live's priorities should be Jesus, family, ministry.
If you are a parent, GOD has called you to be a parent. You have a huge responsibility to raise Godly children and it is no easy task! If you are married, GOD called you to be married. If you are single, you have a church family that involves other human lives, GOD called you to love your brother and sister.
Well it is getting late, have a blessed day and think to see where you would fit into these two thoughts. GOD BLESS!!! Jim :)
2 comments:
Bible Trivia:
What three-word phrase did the resurrected Jesus repeat while reinstating Peter?
John 21:15-19
ANSWER:...lovest thou me?
IN CHRIST
Ecc.3
Donna
In these verses I can so often see myself as through the years of growing in my walk no my walk and LOVE for Jesus I also have to include such words and APPRECIATION, UNDERSTANDING. Through those times that I have failed and He keeps me close to Him and as I feel His Love I am truly learning how to Love and I have heard as I progress these same words found in these passages.
Now I know He knows my Heart for Him but causing me to PROFESS MY LOVE over and over burns it into my own soul and hearing myself keeps me Close and Hungry TO FEED HIS SHEEP.
John 21:15-19 Simon lovest thou me
Peter had thrice denied his Lord, and now Christ gives him an opportunity in some measure to repair his fault by a triple confession.
This question "More than these?"
Is a kind of reproach to Peter: he had professed to have a more affectionate attachment to Christ than the rest. He had been more forward in professing that his friendship and love for Christ was more than any others and no one (Judas excepted) had treated his Lord so. As he had done this before to his Master, now Jesus puts the question to him, not once but three times, "Dost thou love me more than these?" Notice how Peter now answers, he knew of his past failures and arrogance. Peter made the most modest reply-Thou knowest I love thee, but he longer dwelt on the strength of his love, nor compares himself with ANY of his brethren. He had before cast very unkind reflection on his fellow disciples. Found in Matthew 26:33- Though all be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended- he has now learned, by dreadful experience, that he who trusteth his own heart can be deceived, and that a man's sufficiency for good is in the Lord alone.
Last looking at verse 19 I see two statements I want to just make a short note on. They are:
1. Should glorify God:
It is thought that about thirty-four years after this, Peter was crucified; and that he felt it glorious to die for Christ so much that he begged to be crucified with his head downwards, considering himself not worthy to die in the same posture in which his Lord did.
2. Follow me:
Whether Jesus meant for Peter to walk with him a little way for a private, or whether He meant that he was to imitate his example, or be conformed to Him in the manner of his death, is uncertain. I personally lean toward the manner of death, Christ being all knowing leaving these words behind would echo in the heart and soul of Peter when the time came for him to die for the CAUSE OF CHRIST
IN CHRIST
Ecc. 3
Donna
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