JACKS DAILY DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
(James 4:1), ““Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your “desires for pleasure” that war in your members?”
As touched upon yesterday, “The way of peace”, requires walking in “The way of Maturity”.
As we have looked at over the last couple days spiritual maturity is gauged by the following attitudes or spiritual principles:
#1) Spiritual Maturity receives the truth with out arguing it or manipulating it.
#2) Spiritual Maturity stops pointing fingers at every body else’s failures and mistakes.
#3) Spiritual Maturity knows when to and when not to speak.
#4) Spiritually mature believers are less dependent on themselves and increasingly dependent on Christ… the Word… and the Holy Spirit.
Mature Christians do not make much of themselves and their good works and progress… they make much of Jesus.
They believe and practice what Jesus said: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
Every branch in me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit”.
Even while mature Christians are growing in faith and holiness, they do not grow more dependent on themselves, because they know their growth comes through abiding in Christ - dependency on Christ alone - and obedience to His command to “love God and love others”.
Mature Christians don't take credit for themselves… they humbly follow Jesus.
#5) Spiritually Mature Christians make every effort to build themselves up in faith.
The good news is "Come close to God, and God will come close to you." (James 4:8)
As we take steps closer to God, we experience His goodness, grace and glory in our lives in new ways.
The Apostle Peter tells us: "Make every effort to add to your faith goodness… and to goodness, knowledge… and to knowledge, self-control… and to self-control, perseverance… and to perseverance, godliness… and to godliness, mutual affection… and to mutual affection, love.
For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election.
For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2nd Peter 1:5-11)
We need to understand these biblical principles so we can help others learn to calm their anger and put away their generations-long cycle of revenge.
If we learn these lessons of love, controlling our tempers and fighting the desire for revenge, we will be able to practice and later to teach others these essential components of, “The way of peace”.
Good day!
(James 4:1), ““Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your “desires for pleasure” that war in your members?”
As touched upon yesterday, “The way of peace”, requires walking in “The way of Maturity”.
Spiritual maturity is something learned, developed, and grown into or acquired through disciplining our selves to obedience to the Word of God.
Submission to the Word of God opens up heavens store house of maturity
Following are several points that indicate our progress in the process of developing spiritual maturity.
#1) Spiritual maturity receives the truth of the Word and applies it with out trying to twist it or manipulate it to fit into our human wisdom or understanding.
A faithful follower of Christ doesn't add to or take away from the Word of God.
In the words of Greg Laurie, "you are simply God's paperboy", delivering the newspaper that declares the message about Christ and His ways.
#2) Mature Christians stop pointing out everyone else’s sins short comings and mistakes and are quick to confess and admit to their own.
DL Moody said, "I've had more trouble with myself than any other man I've ever met".
Jesus taught us in (Matthew 7:1-5) "Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. You will be treated as you treat others.
The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.
Why do you worry about a speck in your brothers eye when you have a log in your own?
How can you think of saying to your friend or brother, 'Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye’, when you can't see past the log in your own eye?
O Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your brother or friend's eye."
A mature Christian comes to this place where they see their own glaring sins failures and short comings… and continually focus on repenting in their own lives, and stop trying to be the watchdogs of the world.
#3) Mature Christians watch their words, and know when not to speak.
“Immature” believers can't help but speak their “opinions” on everything and everyone around them.
They act often times as if they are the world's spiritual police and make sure every one knows their opinion.
Now there is nothing wrong about having an opinion on any given subject… but a spiritually mature person asks himself or herself... “Is my opinion based on fact, on truth, or on here say”.
(James 3:2) "Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way."
This passage is extremely sobering - first, because James calls it as it is - we all make way more mistakes than we care to admit.
Secondly, spiritual maturity comes through being more careful about the words we speak.
(Ephesians 4:29 and 4:2-3) take us further: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Be completely humble and gentle… be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."
If we are going to be spiritually mature in our faith, we must live in these verses.
Spiritual maturity passes everything we do in our Christian life through these life style attitudes outlined from scripture.
Walking in humility, gentleness, and patience with and for others, keeping a careful guard over our mouth and the words we speak.
Lets talk more about this tomorrow…
Good Day!
(Romans 3:17) “The way of peace they have not known.”
In discussing “The Way of Peace”, we have looked at “the Way of Love” and “the Way of Wisdom”, today I want to look at the Way of Maturity”.
“The Way of Maturity” is seen in spiritual growth.
And as a believer in Christ we must be a people that “seeks to mature” in our faith, and our relationship together as believers in Christ.
That means that we must “grow up” or “mature” in our relationship with God as well as with others.
(1st Peter 2:2) “As newborn babes, we need to desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby”.
(1st Corinthians 3:1-3) “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ”
“For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying and strife and divisions, are ye not carnal and walk as men”?
Paul gave us a prescription for maturity in (1st Corinthians 13) in what is called “The Love Chapter”.
All of the elements of love described in (Corinthians 13:4-7) are worthy of intense study by those whom want to know “The Way of Peace”.
But I think (1st Corinthians 13:5) reveals the essence of true spiritual maturity… “Love does not behave gracelessly… it does not insist on its rights… it never flies into a temper… it does not store up the memory of any wrong it has received.”
So what is meant by “love never flies into a temper” or as the New King James Version says “love is not provoked”?
“The real meaning of this is that Christian love never becomes “exasperated” with other people.
Exasperation is always a sign of defeat.
When we lose our tempers, we lose everything.
Noble Prize recipient Rudyard Kipling wrote… “it is the test of a man… if he can keep his head when everyone else was losing theirs and giving way to blaming others… and… if when hated he did not give way to hating.”
The man who is “master of his temper can be master of anything.”
Paul also writes “Love does not store up the memory of any wrong it has received”.
From the original Greek language, the word translated for “store up”… is the same word used for “accounting”.
It is the word used for “entering an item in a ledger”, so that it will not be forgotten.
And unfortunately, that is precisely where so many people fail.
They hold onto offense instead of forgetting it and letting it go.
One of the great arts in life is to “learn to forget”!
Many people nurse their wrath to keep it warm… they brood over offence and wrongs committed against them until it is impossible to forget them.
Spiritual maturity has learned the great lesson of “forgiving and forgetting.”
When we learn to walk in “the way of spiritual maturity” we are on the brink of becoming “peacemakers”.
There are many attitudes and actions that that go into “maturing in Christ”,
There are 5 keys or milestones that can help you examine your progress or growth that I use to assess or examine my own level of maturity and spiritual growth.
I’d like to look at them with you over the next couple of days so that you to can examine or assess your own growth and level of maturity
Lets look at them tomorrow.
Until then lets pray together asking the Father to open up our hearts of understanding and give us spiritual eyes to examine our self, see the truth, and walk in it.
Good day!
(James 4:1), ““Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your “desires for pleasure” that war in your members?”
When analyzing or studying how to walk in “The Way of Peace”…there are several things that we must do, in order to see the reality of it become an attribute that automatically flows out… or emanates from the believers life.
Yesterday we talked about being obedient to “the way of love”.
If you truly want to walk in peace, then you have to walk in love.
Not just any love, but radical selfless love, “Gods Agape love”, even to the point of being willing to give up your own life.
The second step to walking in “the way of peace”… is to desire, long for, and to seek after wisdom!
(Proverbs 4:5-7) puts it this way.
“Get wisdom, get understanding, do not forget my words or turn away from them.
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom… though it cost all you have.
If we are going to walk in the way of peace, we need to grow in Godly wisdom.
Now let me be clear so that you understand the context of what James is referring to using the word wisdom.
He is not talking about education.
As (James 4:1) says… “What causes conflicts and quarrels among you?
Don’t they come from the passions at war within you?
You crave what you do not have; you kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it.
You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask.
Just before asking the question where do wars, strife, animosity, anger, come from”?
James gave some instruction about living in the “the way of peace”.
(James 3:17-18) “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace”
James used eight Greek words here to describe “wisdom that comes from above”… and they each counteract the type of worldly wisdom that is “full of bitter envy and self-seeking” that leads to confusion, fights and war. (James 3:14)
The word “peaceable”, the second word in the list, basically means “right relationships” or unity.
So then, what James is saying is, “We are all trying to reap the good harvest promised by God which a good life brings”.
But the seeds which bring the rich harvest, will never flourish in any atmosphere, other than in that of unity or “right relationships between man and man”.
And the only people who can sow these seeds and reap the reward of sowing them, are those whose life work it is to produce such right relationships.
That is to say, nothing good can ever grow in an atmosphere where men are at variance with one another.
In a group where there is bitterness and strife, the soil is barren and seeds of peace can never grow.
Thus the need for forgiveness, mercy, forbearance, compassion… which are all attributes of love.
These are “relational seeds” that will produce a harvest of peace.
So then it is crucial that we grow in Gods love and His wisdom!
(James 3:17) encourages His followers in the early church “to seek wisdom”, not just any wisdom… but the wisdom that comes from above.
James goes on saying that the truly wise and understanding person, is one whose faith in God leads to selfless good works.
Wise people live in humility… setting themselves aside to serve others.
This is totally opposite from the worlds concept which says man is responsible to serve him - or herself first.
The result is self centeredness that brings about disorder and conflict instead of the peace, gentleness, and mercy that follows from living by heaven's wisdom.
The opposite of the worlds wisdom… is found in the wisdom of those who trust God to provide all they need and who continues to give His children every good gift (James 1:17), and to fulfill every desire of their heart for eternity with Him in Heaven.
As a result, believers striving to walk in heavenly wisdom willingly sacrifice opportunities for "more and more" ie money, pleasure, and power.
Those who truly want to follow after God know that they need to make themselves available, “to serve” the needs of others.
The result of submission to God is very different than selfish, worldly ambition.
Godly wisdom is refined and focused on mainly one thing… and that is being obedient to whatever God has called us to do.
What is it that God called us to do?
(Matthew 5:9) it is to be “peacemakers”.
Godly wisdom is “peaceable” or “peace-loving”, putting a high value on easing conflict.
His wisdom is gentle and considerate, not ready to fight, but ready to serve.
This kind of wisdom is reasonable or submissive… ready to see things from another point of view and do it someone else's way.
True wisdom is full of mercy it is impartial, not showing favoritism or self willfulness.
It is sincere, with no need to manipulate others to get what it wants.
It's amazing how much easier and more pleasant life becomes when a true follower of Christ “gives up” the drive, the all-consuming passion, the selfish need of getting what he or she wants at any cost.
Without that agenda, there's less and less need for conflict.
And yet, the only way to give up that agenda… is to believe that our good God is providing all we need in every moment.
That is Godly wisdom… that is the way of peace!
Good Day!
James used eight Greek words here to describe “wisdom that comes from above”… and they each counteract the type of worldly wisdom that is “full of bitter envy and self-seeking” that leads to confusion, fights and war. (James 3:14)
The word “peaceable”, the second word in the list, basically means “right relationships” or unity.
So then, what James is saying is, “We are all trying to reap the good harvest promised by God which a good life brings”.
But the seeds which bring the rich harvest, will never flourish in any atmosphere, other than in that of unity or “right relationships between man and man”.
And the only people who can sow these seeds and reap the reward of sowing them, are those whose life work it is to produce such right relationships.
That is to say, nothing good can ever grow in an atmosphere where men are at variance with one another.
In a group where there is bitterness and strife, the soil is barren and seeds of peace can never grow.
Thus the need for forgiveness, mercy, forbearance, compassion… which are all attributes of love.
These are “relational seeds” that will produce a harvest of peace.
So then it is crucial that we grow in Gods love and His wisdom!
(James 3:17) encourages His followers in the early church “to seek wisdom”, not just any wisdom… but the wisdom that comes from above.
James goes on saying that the truly wise and understanding person, is one whose faith in God leads to selfless good works.
Wise people live in humility… setting themselves aside to serve others.
This is totally opposite from the worlds concept which says man is responsible to serve him - or herself first.
The result is self centeredness that brings about disorder and conflict instead of the peace, gentleness, and mercy that follows from living by heaven's wisdom.
The opposite of the worlds wisdom… is found in the wisdom of those who trust God to provide all they need and who continues to give His children every good gift (James 1:17), and to fulfill every desire of their heart for eternity with Him in Heaven.
As a result, believers striving to walk in heavenly wisdom willingly sacrifice opportunities for "more and more" ie money, pleasure, and power.
Those who truly want to follow after God know that they need to make themselves available, “to serve” the needs of others.
The result of submission to God is very different than selfish, worldly ambition.
Godly wisdom is refined and focused on mainly one thing… and that is being obedient to whatever God has called us to do.
What is it that God called us to do?
(Matthew 5:9) it is to be “peacemakers”.
Godly wisdom is “peaceable” or “peace-loving”, putting a high value on easing conflict.
His wisdom is gentle and considerate, not ready to fight, but ready to serve.
This kind of wisdom is reasonable or submissive… ready to see things from another point of view and do it someone else's way.
True wisdom is full of mercy it is impartial, not showing favoritism or self willfulness.
It is sincere, with no need to manipulate others to get what it wants.
It's amazing how much easier and more pleasant life becomes when a true follower of Christ “gives up” the drive, the all-consuming passion, the selfish need of getting what he or she wants at any cost.
Without that agenda, there's less and less need for conflict.
And yet, the only way to give up that agenda… is to believe that our good God is providing all we need in every moment.
That is Godly wisdom… that is the way of peace!
Good Day!
(Romans 3:17) “The way of peace they have not known." As I watch world events play, I am so very conscious of this verse of scripture from the Apostle Paul, “The way of peace they have not known.”
The Bible accurately described this human condition some 2000 years ago.
In fact it has been a problem since Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden because of their disobedience to God, and in the after math, their two sons Cain and Able fell into a rage and Cain slew Able his brother.
All thru time humans have yearned for and struggled for peace, but still it has eluded us.
What does the Bible reveal about the way of peace, and how can we live that way?
Well I think it goes to what Jesus said in (John 14:6) when He said “I am the way”.
So in that case we have to ask our selves what is the way of Christ?
The way of Christ is the way of Love!
And love begins not as some sappy emotion that we have no control over, but real love is a commitment.
Commitments are kept through acts of self-discipline and obedience.
Here are some thoughts how to have, know or develop “the way of peace”.
#1) we need to obey God’s law of love.
“Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble” (Psalm 119:165).
First of all we need to realize that it begins with you, and it begins with me.
God’s law is the basis of all right relationships—showing us how to love God and love our fellow humans (Matthew 22:37-40).
Being a peacemaker requires not just thinking... but acting.
And Jesus gave us some very radical ways of acting when the potential for strife rises up before us in (Matthew 5:21- 48).
Paul described some of the elements of this “way of peace” in his letter to the Romans:
“Be of the same mind toward one another.
Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble.
Do not be wise in your own opinion.
Repay no one evil for evil.
Here are some thoughts how to have, know or develop “the way of peace”.
#1) we need to obey God’s law of love.
“Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble” (Psalm 119:165).
First of all we need to realize that it begins with you, and it begins with me.
God’s law is the basis of all right relationships—showing us how to love God and love our fellow humans (Matthew 22:37-40).
Being a peacemaker requires not just thinking... but acting.
And Jesus gave us some very radical ways of acting when the potential for strife rises up before us in (Matthew 5:21- 48).
Paul described some of the elements of this “way of peace” in his letter to the Romans:
“Be of the same mind toward one another.
Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble.
Do not be wise in your own opinion.
Repay no one evil for evil.
Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.
Therefore, If your enemy is hungry, feed him... if he is thirsty, give him a drink for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:16-21).
Striving to live in harmony, not allowing pride to stir up conflicts, leaving revenge to God, serving our enemies—these are challenging assignments, but they are essential to the way of peace. I believe there are 4 ways to develop our love for one another and to begin to experience the way of peace.
Over the next couple of days I am going to look at several more of them.
In the mean time chew on this thought this day, and let it start you on “the way of peace”.
Good day!
Striving to live in harmony, not allowing pride to stir up conflicts, leaving revenge to God, serving our enemies—these are challenging assignments, but they are essential to the way of peace. I believe there are 4 ways to develop our love for one another and to begin to experience the way of peace.
Over the next couple of days I am going to look at several more of them.
In the mean time chew on this thought this day, and let it start you on “the way of peace”.
Good day!
(1st Corinthians 10:31) “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God”
From our earliest years as a young child we are taught that we must obey or be obedient.
Children are taught to obey their parents, their teachers, employees in the marketplace and the authorities,
During that journey, however many have developed the illness of “people pleasing”.
Now obedience is a good attribute for all of us to develop… but if we are not careful we can fall into the trap of becoming people pleasers.
That is, we fall into the trap of “doing things” that others expect or demand so that we will be liked or feel valued.
It’s true that we all want other people to like us and to approve of what we do.
But the trouble with “people pleasing” is that we begin to “measure our value”, by the approval and recognition we receive.
And if we don’t get that approval we can feel like we’re not worth anything.
But we need to understand that our true worth, our value comes from God, not anyone else.
In (Matthew 10:29-31) Jesus said “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?
Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.
And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
So don’t be afraid… you are worth more than many sparrows”
God doesn’t want us to live trapped by other people’s opinions.
When we live by other people’s expectations of us, we give them control over our lives.
God wants us to live for Him.
In (Galatians 1:10) Paul said…
God doesn’t want us to live trapped by other people’s opinions.
When we live by other people’s expectations of us, we give them control over our lives.
God wants us to live for Him.
In (Galatians 1:10) Paul said…
“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God?
Am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ”
We need to think about our motive for why we do things.
Are we trying to please people, or are we living for Christ and His approval.
Are we serving to gain recognition in the world, or to follow the call of God?
Paul wrote, “whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God”
When we feel hurt because our work and serving is going unnoticed, we need to remember that God sees everything we do.
(Hebrews 6:10) tells us… “God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them”
In (Ephesians 4:1-2) the Apostle Paul writes… “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love (Ephesians 4:1-2)
Paul is encouraging us to have the right attitude about serving one another.
This is not to “please people” around us to earn their love and respect… wut to walk in a manner that pleases God and returns to Him our love and our appreciation for what He has done… not to earn His respect or love.
Here are four attitudes that take the attention off of our selves and restores the focus to God.
The first thing we must consider or purpose to do is…
#1) Walk in “lowliness”…
To the Greeks of Paul’s day “lowliness” or “humility” was not a virtue.
Nor is it a virtue “valued” in our society as well.
The opposite of lowliness is “pride-fullness”.
Pride-full people want, demand and need the attention of others.
But in Christ “lowliness” and “humility” becomes a virtue.
His life and death were service and sacrifice without thought of reputation (Philippians. 2:6–7)
Because the Christian is called to follow in His steps, the footsteps of Christ… humility has an irreplaceable part in the Christian character (Acts 20:19),
Humility causes us to see the greatness and the glory and the holiness of God, so that we ourselves cannot but be overwhelmed by the realization of His great love toward us.
We need to think about our motive for why we do things.
Are we trying to please people, or are we living for Christ and His approval.
Are we serving to gain recognition in the world, or to follow the call of God?
Paul wrote, “whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God”
When we feel hurt because our work and serving is going unnoticed, we need to remember that God sees everything we do.
(Hebrews 6:10) tells us… “God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them”
In (Ephesians 4:1-2) the Apostle Paul writes… “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love (Ephesians 4:1-2)
Paul is encouraging us to have the right attitude about serving one another.
This is not to “please people” around us to earn their love and respect… wut to walk in a manner that pleases God and returns to Him our love and our appreciation for what He has done… not to earn His respect or love.
Here are four attitudes that take the attention off of our selves and restores the focus to God.
The first thing we must consider or purpose to do is…
#1) Walk in “lowliness”…
To the Greeks of Paul’s day “lowliness” or “humility” was not a virtue.
Nor is it a virtue “valued” in our society as well.
The opposite of lowliness is “pride-fullness”.
Pride-full people want, demand and need the attention of others.
But in Christ “lowliness” and “humility” becomes a virtue.
His life and death were service and sacrifice without thought of reputation (Philippians. 2:6–7)
Because the Christian is called to follow in His steps, the footsteps of Christ… humility has an irreplaceable part in the Christian character (Acts 20:19),
Humility causes us to see the greatness and the glory and the holiness of God, so that we ourselves cannot but be overwhelmed by the realization of His great love toward us.
#2) “To walk in “meekness”…
The word meekness was used in classical Greek in the good sense of being “mild-mannered” or having “gentleness of character”.
Meekness describes that of an animal completely disciplined and under control.
Meekness in the New Testament is used to describe a person’s attitude to the Word of God (James 1:21) but more often of one’s attitude to each other (1st Corinthians 4:21) (2nd Timothy 2:25) and
(Titus 3:2)
It is closely connected with “the spirit of submissiveness”, which becomes the keynote of his letter in (Ephesians 5:21), when the Apostle Paul speaks of human relationships.
Moses is aptly described in (Numbers 12:3) as “very meek”.
Meekness is described “as the spirit of one who is so absorbed in seeking some worthy goal for the common good… that he refuses to be deflected from it by slights, injuries or insults directed at himself personally, or indeed by personal considerations of any kind”.
#3) Thirdly, we are to walk in “patience”…
We are to walk patiently and with patience, a word sometimes used to describe steadfast endurance thru suffering or misfortune.
Patience is used to describe God’s patience with humanity and is a corresponding and consequent quality that the Christian should show towards others.
#4) Finally there is “forbearance”
A divine quality that practices the art of longsuffering.
It involves “bearing with” one another’s weaknesses… not ceasing to love one’s neighbors or friends because of the faults we see in them which perhaps offend or displease us.
Forbearance is that “mutual tolerance” without which no group of human beings can live together in peace.
Such forbearance, and indeed all these four qualities are possible only when we choose to love.
For love is the basic attitude of seeking the highest good of others, and it will therefore lead to all these four qualities.
Paul has prayed that his readers may be “rooted and grounded in love” (Ephesians 3:17), and now he exhorts them to do their part, and to go on to possess all these virtues in love.
Love for others, is why we try “to do good”… not for vain glory or to win the respect or attention of others around us… or to be loved in return… not so that we can be elevated, appreciated, spoken good of or liked.
Love is not “people pleasing” it is “God pleasing”… not for my benefit, but for His kingdom.
Understanding your value and your unique purpose in life… will eliminate or take away the need to be a “people pleaser”.
You already have great value in the eyes of God.
So lets “walk worthy” of that value and that love!
Good Day!
(Psalm 26:3 ) ‘Your loving kindness is before my eyes.’
The story’s told of a little boy who was asked, “Do you say your prayers every night”?
He replied, ‘No… some nights I don’t need anything!’
We smile, but the point is painfully obvious.
If the only time your husband or wife communicated with you was when they were in trouble or had a need they couldn’t meet on their own… how long do you think your relationship would last?
There must be a balance between your praise and your petitions.
Now you might be thinking, “If the Lord is big enough to create and run the universe, I doubt He’s bothered when somebody as insignificant as me fails to say thanks.”
Oh but not so!
When Jesus healed ten lepers and only one returned to give thanks, He asked… “Where are the other nine?” (Luke 17:17)
If God dealt with you solely on the basis of His righteousness and your proclivity for unrighteousness, you’d be sunk!
But He doesn’t.
He says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself” (Jeremiah 31:3)
I love David’s assurance to us from (Psalm 103:10-14) “He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear him… as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him… for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust.
Realizing this, the Psalmist wrote in (Psalm 63:3-4) “Because Your loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus, I will bless You while I live”
Again the Psalmist writes: ‘I will…praise Your name for Your loving kindness and Your truth… for You have magnified Your word above all Your name.
In the day when I cried out… You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul” (Psalm 138:2-3)
Someone quipped, “God doesn’t mind getting invoiced as long as He gets thanked”!
The amazing thing is that His love is steadfast and unmovable.
“I have loved thee with an everlasting love”, (Jeremiah 31:3)
Nothing warms a fathers heart more than when his children, (and wife included) draws close and tells them, “I love you daddy… Thanks for all you do”!
So, take a moment and recall God’s loving kindness to you… and then take some time praising Him and thanking Him.
You’ll be amazed at what it does for your soul and spirit!
Good Day!