DEVOTION
1 THESSALONIANS
PRESS ON
1 Thess 3:1-2
3:1 So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. 2 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God's fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,
NIV
I certainly am no Paul, no leader of the pack and I am not alone nor have the ability of sending anyone in my place. But maybe I can identify with timothy a little in the sense I feel as though I have been sent to a place to strengthen and encourage people in their faith. The question is am I being successful in discharging that duty or calling or sending. Is simply being strong in my faith enough to encourage others? Although I think maybe that has some merit I doubt seriously if people are watching me that much. So I think it is this opportunity I have been afforded to preach and or write are the desired method the Lord has had in store for me. I am to speak words which strengthen and encourage my fellow believers in their faith as well as live a life of faith wide open and in front of all to see. This I have no problem with. Although I do not boldly search out the company of others as much as I should, when I am in the company of fellow believers I must live out my faith in whatever conversation which ensues. Trust in God is paramount in the demonstration of faith. I fear way too many believers waver in that and have turned to trusting in some of the worlds methods for their lifestyles. It bothers me when I see that. God is by far the greatest source to trust in. No, I have been sent to where I am to speak up and speak out those words which will strengthen and encourage my fellow believers in their faith. I must inform them to look solely to God for everything and to not waving in the face of the temptations of this world. I wonder if I am failing in my task. I wonder if I have varied from that purpose. I do preach solely from the Word of God. I do not use any other text and so I have to believe any time the Word of God is brought forth it does those things. Although I believe it may well admonish, instruct, correct, rebuke and exhort in other areas of everyone’s life. But I do think as I ponder on these words, to strengthen and encourage others in their faith bears much on all the others. I know the Word of God has certainly strengthened and encouraged my faith. So I must press on.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Longing
DEVOTION
1 THESSALONIANS
LONGING
1 Thess 2:17-20
17 But, brothers, when we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. 18 For we wanted to come to you — certainly I, Paul, did, again and again — but Satan stopped us. 19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? 20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy.
NIV
I am not sure if I have ever had an intense longing to see anyone from my past, even those I have had the immense pleasure of leading them to the Lord Jesus Christ. Is there something wrong with me? Why is this not part of my being? Do I not care about them because I do not have this intense longing to see them again? I don’t think I have ever been stopped by Satan in my efforts to visit people from the past. Maybe he is the reason I do not have this intense longing, no it is simply me. I was never and most likely still am a somewhat solitary person. I am completely drained whenever I am in some social setting and thus I do not pursue being with any people very much. But I think that is not the way I should be as a believer. I think I am supposed to desire to be with people so I can have interaction with them regarding Christ. I am convinced I do not think of those people I have lead to Jesus as my joy and crown when I get to see Jesus. Maybe I should. Maybe I should not because I think that is prideful. I am humbled that my Lord used me is such a way to bring a few people into his glories light. Yet I still must deal with the fact I do not have an intense longing to see them again. Although I do get to see one fairly often I do not long to see him. There has to be something missing in my character. Is not the Spirit at work in me? Although even though I am not physically in the presence of some fellow believers, I do think about them often so maybe I am not as awful as I think I am. I simply do not know. If I am to have a different approach to this or opinion about my interactions or intense longing to be with other believers, the Spirit must direct my heart in this matter. I must be more open to hear from him as well. The question is do I want to have this longing.
1 THESSALONIANS
LONGING
1 Thess 2:17-20
17 But, brothers, when we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. 18 For we wanted to come to you — certainly I, Paul, did, again and again — but Satan stopped us. 19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? 20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy.
NIV
I am not sure if I have ever had an intense longing to see anyone from my past, even those I have had the immense pleasure of leading them to the Lord Jesus Christ. Is there something wrong with me? Why is this not part of my being? Do I not care about them because I do not have this intense longing to see them again? I don’t think I have ever been stopped by Satan in my efforts to visit people from the past. Maybe he is the reason I do not have this intense longing, no it is simply me. I was never and most likely still am a somewhat solitary person. I am completely drained whenever I am in some social setting and thus I do not pursue being with any people very much. But I think that is not the way I should be as a believer. I think I am supposed to desire to be with people so I can have interaction with them regarding Christ. I am convinced I do not think of those people I have lead to Jesus as my joy and crown when I get to see Jesus. Maybe I should. Maybe I should not because I think that is prideful. I am humbled that my Lord used me is such a way to bring a few people into his glories light. Yet I still must deal with the fact I do not have an intense longing to see them again. Although I do get to see one fairly often I do not long to see him. There has to be something missing in my character. Is not the Spirit at work in me? Although even though I am not physically in the presence of some fellow believers, I do think about them often so maybe I am not as awful as I think I am. I simply do not know. If I am to have a different approach to this or opinion about my interactions or intense longing to be with other believers, the Spirit must direct my heart in this matter. I must be more open to hear from him as well. The question is do I want to have this longing.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Suffering
DEVOTION
1 THESSALONIANS
SUFFERING
1 Thess 2:14-16
14 For you, brothers, became imitators of God's churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the Jews, 15 who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to all men 16 in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.
NIV
I wonder if I as a member of the body of Christ, I alone am responsibly to imitate those churches in Judea. Or does this imply the whole local church I attend should be imitators of those early churches in Judea. Certainly the modern churches here in this country are not suffering from our own countrymen. Far from it, the modern church simply does not threaten the establishment enough to even be considered a threat enough to bother with. Perhaps in some countries this is true enough, but not here in the United States. And if I can personalize this, am I a threat enough to the established way of live to be considered a threat and thus receive some form of suffering from the hands of my fellow citizens? Do I speak out against the sins of the world loud enough to be a threat to them? Does the Church? Or is the “love of God” message just a clanging symbol? Is it a noise no one notices or cares about? Maybe if the message was “repent of your sins, because you’re condemning yourself to hell if you don’t” would get enough attention to cause them to bring suffering on the churches or on me. I know I do not stand on the corner, but I sure do come in contact with people of the world, people who are not a part of the body of Christ, people who are not saved. Do people hate God that much if I or the local church were to act and live in the same manner as those early churches in Judea, they would hate us also? What about the love of God? But again the United States is supposed to be a Christian country and most people think they are Christians so who cares about one voice or one denomination that is a little wacky. Maybe I need to change me message. Maybe I need to be more forthright in declaring sinners as sinners and they need to repent. Yet it is the Holy Spirit who convicts people of their sin. Maybe I simply need to declare the road to salvation more clearly. Maybe I need to declare Jesus Christ is the one and only way to salvation more clearly. Maybe I need to declare in order for someone to enter into the kingdom of God they must be born again with greater vigor. Then maybe I might just experience some suffering at their hands.
1 THESSALONIANS
SUFFERING
1 Thess 2:14-16
14 For you, brothers, became imitators of God's churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the Jews, 15 who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to all men 16 in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.
NIV
I wonder if I as a member of the body of Christ, I alone am responsibly to imitate those churches in Judea. Or does this imply the whole local church I attend should be imitators of those early churches in Judea. Certainly the modern churches here in this country are not suffering from our own countrymen. Far from it, the modern church simply does not threaten the establishment enough to even be considered a threat enough to bother with. Perhaps in some countries this is true enough, but not here in the United States. And if I can personalize this, am I a threat enough to the established way of live to be considered a threat and thus receive some form of suffering from the hands of my fellow citizens? Do I speak out against the sins of the world loud enough to be a threat to them? Does the Church? Or is the “love of God” message just a clanging symbol? Is it a noise no one notices or cares about? Maybe if the message was “repent of your sins, because you’re condemning yourself to hell if you don’t” would get enough attention to cause them to bring suffering on the churches or on me. I know I do not stand on the corner, but I sure do come in contact with people of the world, people who are not a part of the body of Christ, people who are not saved. Do people hate God that much if I or the local church were to act and live in the same manner as those early churches in Judea, they would hate us also? What about the love of God? But again the United States is supposed to be a Christian country and most people think they are Christians so who cares about one voice or one denomination that is a little wacky. Maybe I need to change me message. Maybe I need to be more forthright in declaring sinners as sinners and they need to repent. Yet it is the Holy Spirit who convicts people of their sin. Maybe I simply need to declare the road to salvation more clearly. Maybe I need to declare Jesus Christ is the one and only way to salvation more clearly. Maybe I need to declare in order for someone to enter into the kingdom of God they must be born again with greater vigor. Then maybe I might just experience some suffering at their hands.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Believe
DEVOTION
1 THESSALONIANS
BELIEVE
1 Thess 2:13-14
13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.
NIV
There is no question when I heard the word I knew it was God’s and not men’s. I cannot understand why some people I know cannot accept that. They use that old excuse that the Bible was written by men. Yes, that is true in a sense, but those men were inspired by the Holy Spirit to pen the words they did. A history book in the classroom is accepted as truth and it is written by men, who were not alive at the time they write about. So then why is the Bible not factual or true about what happened in a time long ago? It makes no sense to me. I even have a harder time believing the classroom history books than I do the Bible. I think men rewrite history for they own advantage today. Those men who were inspired to pen God’s word had no advantage but rather most of them lost their life because of it. I know the power of the Word of God because it has done a work in me. It has changed my life for the better, way better than I could have ever hoped for without it. How can people not see the Word as from God? Why it that so hard for them? Or is it because they actually do know it is true and do not want to give up the pleasures of sin and thus simply say I don’t believe it is from God but just from men? I think that is the case in most that refuse to believe it. It simply confounds me why. I was so opposed to God, so against the whole idea of God. Of course I equated God with organized religion or church and all I ever saw was all they wanted was money. I was bitter and refused to accept anything about religion or God. Yet when I heard the truth and God revealed himself to me, I was completely blown away. His word came with power beyond all power. I could not do anything but believe. I could do nothing but commit myself to him and to his service. Once I heard the truth, I knew without doubt God was who he said he was. I am so thankful for his love and forgiveness, for his grace and mercy toward me. I am so thankful for all he has done for me, in me and through me and is still at work in all those areas of my life. He still is doing for me, and is doing in me and is doing through me. I could not live any other way, but to believe.
1 THESSALONIANS
BELIEVE
1 Thess 2:13-14
13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.
NIV
There is no question when I heard the word I knew it was God’s and not men’s. I cannot understand why some people I know cannot accept that. They use that old excuse that the Bible was written by men. Yes, that is true in a sense, but those men were inspired by the Holy Spirit to pen the words they did. A history book in the classroom is accepted as truth and it is written by men, who were not alive at the time they write about. So then why is the Bible not factual or true about what happened in a time long ago? It makes no sense to me. I even have a harder time believing the classroom history books than I do the Bible. I think men rewrite history for they own advantage today. Those men who were inspired to pen God’s word had no advantage but rather most of them lost their life because of it. I know the power of the Word of God because it has done a work in me. It has changed my life for the better, way better than I could have ever hoped for without it. How can people not see the Word as from God? Why it that so hard for them? Or is it because they actually do know it is true and do not want to give up the pleasures of sin and thus simply say I don’t believe it is from God but just from men? I think that is the case in most that refuse to believe it. It simply confounds me why. I was so opposed to God, so against the whole idea of God. Of course I equated God with organized religion or church and all I ever saw was all they wanted was money. I was bitter and refused to accept anything about religion or God. Yet when I heard the truth and God revealed himself to me, I was completely blown away. His word came with power beyond all power. I could not do anything but believe. I could do nothing but commit myself to him and to his service. Once I heard the truth, I knew without doubt God was who he said he was. I am so thankful for his love and forgiveness, for his grace and mercy toward me. I am so thankful for all he has done for me, in me and through me and is still at work in all those areas of my life. He still is doing for me, and is doing in me and is doing through me. I could not live any other way, but to believe.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Living Worthy
DEVOTION
1 THESSALONIANS
LIVING WORTHY
1 Thess 2:10-12
10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. NIV
I sure cannot claim how holy, righteous and blameless I am among others who believe. Although I suppose when I am with others who believe I may appear as though I am. Is that a false front? Or is it truly who I am? I do know because of Christ, in the eyes of God, I am holy, righteous and blameless. But it still bothers me that I do not think I am in my own eyes. I know my faults, the sin I still struggle with. I can I be a perfect being, completely holy, righteous and blameless within the body I live now? So I have to ask myself how can I fulfill these words of scripture. Only in Christ is my answer. Yet I still am obligated to be the man of God he desires me to be. I am still to approach those who I have been given charge to assist in their walk with the Lord as a father deals with his own children. I still am charged with encouraging, comforting, and urging those follow believers I am with to live lives worthy of the God. I must ask myself how well am I doing in this area. Am I encouraging enough? How do I encourage others to live a life worthy of God? Is it simply by my own behavior or the combination of how I live my life and my words? I think it is both. I know I fail at this comforting thing. I think I am not as comforting as I should be. I am not sure when comforting is needed. If I understand the Greek in the right way then maybe I do comfort. I do relate near to others. I do understand they too struggle with sin in their lives. I understand all of us are imperfect and thus I know the pain and anguish each of my fellow believers have within their being. If that is comfort, then I may well be doing what I am supposed to do. As for the urging, I believe with the opportunities I have been blessed with to preach, teach and write, I do urge my fellow believers on to live lives worthy of God. But I also think that within my daily life, and whenever I am in contact with any fellow believer these qualities, or behaviors should be a part of my being. Each and every day I live, I should be promoting myself and others to a life such as this. How is it possible, not to remember, God has called me into his kingdom and glory? It is not! I am always aware of his calling me into his kingdom and glory as well as all my fellow believers. What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see.
1 THESSALONIANS
LIVING WORTHY
1 Thess 2:10-12
10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. NIV
I sure cannot claim how holy, righteous and blameless I am among others who believe. Although I suppose when I am with others who believe I may appear as though I am. Is that a false front? Or is it truly who I am? I do know because of Christ, in the eyes of God, I am holy, righteous and blameless. But it still bothers me that I do not think I am in my own eyes. I know my faults, the sin I still struggle with. I can I be a perfect being, completely holy, righteous and blameless within the body I live now? So I have to ask myself how can I fulfill these words of scripture. Only in Christ is my answer. Yet I still am obligated to be the man of God he desires me to be. I am still to approach those who I have been given charge to assist in their walk with the Lord as a father deals with his own children. I still am charged with encouraging, comforting, and urging those follow believers I am with to live lives worthy of the God. I must ask myself how well am I doing in this area. Am I encouraging enough? How do I encourage others to live a life worthy of God? Is it simply by my own behavior or the combination of how I live my life and my words? I think it is both. I know I fail at this comforting thing. I think I am not as comforting as I should be. I am not sure when comforting is needed. If I understand the Greek in the right way then maybe I do comfort. I do relate near to others. I do understand they too struggle with sin in their lives. I understand all of us are imperfect and thus I know the pain and anguish each of my fellow believers have within their being. If that is comfort, then I may well be doing what I am supposed to do. As for the urging, I believe with the opportunities I have been blessed with to preach, teach and write, I do urge my fellow believers on to live lives worthy of God. But I also think that within my daily life, and whenever I am in contact with any fellow believer these qualities, or behaviors should be a part of my being. Each and every day I live, I should be promoting myself and others to a life such as this. How is it possible, not to remember, God has called me into his kingdom and glory? It is not! I am always aware of his calling me into his kingdom and glory as well as all my fellow believers. What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Apostle
DEVOTION
1 THESSALONIANS
APOSTLE
1 Thess 2:6-9
As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, 7 but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. 8 We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. 9 Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.
NIV
I certainly am no apostle, yet I am an apostle of Christ as I am an ambassador of the Gospel. I represent the Gospel or Christ to a foreign people, those who are lost and dying because they are not a citizen of heaven. True the modern church has implied all sorts of guidelines as to the qualifications of an apostle such as those 12 who Christ selected. But it is also in the much broader sense used for anyone who has received orders from Christ to go into the entire world and preach the Gospel. I cannot help feel this applies to me as well as to many orders. I do wonder is I love people who do not yet know or refuse to know the Gospel enough as to share my life with them. I think I have been friendly enough and certainly no condemning them in anyway. I think I may not go out of my way enough to be that open. Although I do not stand on the street corner I do share the gospel with whoever God brings into my life. I socialize with non-believers but I do not keep silent about my faith either. They know where I stand, and they do not back away from me so I suppose in some sense I am sharing my life with them. I only wish I could be more outspoken. I wonder if I am afraid of closing them out, causing a breach in our relationship and thus not having an opportunity to see them come to Christ. I don’t think I water down the message, or my faith, in order to keep connects with them. I also wonder if I should develop relationships with more non believers. I only have a few at a time. Is that enough? How long should I stay at it with each one? Is there a time I should dust off my feet or not throw pearls before swine? How do I know? God must tell me when it is time. Now as to this toiling day and night not to be a burden to anyone I am perplexed. The whole of the modern church is based on opposition to this phrase. People spend thousands of dollars making collages rich in order to achieve men’s approval to obtain a salaried position which is nothing more than a burden to some group of people in order to preach to them the good news. I simply cannot understand how that complies with this concept. I know I am not in that position and likely will never be. I do not seek any approval of men to share the Gospel, or my life with others. I am but an ambassador of Christ not of a church. I serve Jesus, not the church; I serve the body of Christ but not the church. I receive no compensation except that of pleasing my Lord. I am his apostle. Am I perfect? Absolutely not nor am I without sin, yet I have been commissioned to go, I am still his apostle.
1 THESSALONIANS
APOSTLE
1 Thess 2:6-9
As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, 7 but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. 8 We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. 9 Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.
NIV
I certainly am no apostle, yet I am an apostle of Christ as I am an ambassador of the Gospel. I represent the Gospel or Christ to a foreign people, those who are lost and dying because they are not a citizen of heaven. True the modern church has implied all sorts of guidelines as to the qualifications of an apostle such as those 12 who Christ selected. But it is also in the much broader sense used for anyone who has received orders from Christ to go into the entire world and preach the Gospel. I cannot help feel this applies to me as well as to many orders. I do wonder is I love people who do not yet know or refuse to know the Gospel enough as to share my life with them. I think I have been friendly enough and certainly no condemning them in anyway. I think I may not go out of my way enough to be that open. Although I do not stand on the street corner I do share the gospel with whoever God brings into my life. I socialize with non-believers but I do not keep silent about my faith either. They know where I stand, and they do not back away from me so I suppose in some sense I am sharing my life with them. I only wish I could be more outspoken. I wonder if I am afraid of closing them out, causing a breach in our relationship and thus not having an opportunity to see them come to Christ. I don’t think I water down the message, or my faith, in order to keep connects with them. I also wonder if I should develop relationships with more non believers. I only have a few at a time. Is that enough? How long should I stay at it with each one? Is there a time I should dust off my feet or not throw pearls before swine? How do I know? God must tell me when it is time. Now as to this toiling day and night not to be a burden to anyone I am perplexed. The whole of the modern church is based on opposition to this phrase. People spend thousands of dollars making collages rich in order to achieve men’s approval to obtain a salaried position which is nothing more than a burden to some group of people in order to preach to them the good news. I simply cannot understand how that complies with this concept. I know I am not in that position and likely will never be. I do not seek any approval of men to share the Gospel, or my life with others. I am but an ambassador of Christ not of a church. I serve Jesus, not the church; I serve the body of Christ but not the church. I receive no compensation except that of pleasing my Lord. I am his apostle. Am I perfect? Absolutely not nor am I without sin, yet I have been commissioned to go, I am still his apostle.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Pleasing God
DEVOTION
1 THESSALONIANS
PLEASING GOD
1 Thess 2:3-6
3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed — God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else. NIV
If it is one thing I am sure of is I certainly am not in the business of pleasing people. I think I have rubbed many people the wrong way throughout my life. I think I have even stepped on a few toes when it comes to telling the truth of the message from the Word of God. I think the greatest trouble or opposition I face even with fellow believers is over money. I do not think I preach, teach or write about the truth of God with any impure motive. I do not desire a great following of people. I am not trying to trick people into some false doctrine or do I speak word which please their ears and thus entice them into thinking well of me and give me their approval as a great orator of the Word of God. I do not even desire their well intended ordinations for that to me are nothing more than a man pleasing device. I have even been told those ordinations would give me credibility among men. Is that not simply pleasing men? I think so. I believe I speak as one approved by God as well. God is the one who has called me, and opened all the doors before me. He is the one who has given me the words. He is the one who has developed within me the desire to speak his truth. If it were up to me alone I would hide myself away from people. But I cannot do this because I must please God. I must be about the task he has prepared for me. I must obey the calling he has on my life. I am not sure how well the message I speak sits with people’s hearts but that is not my concern. Oh yes I am concerned about them. I care their understanding the truth of God. But I cannot speak words which please them; I must speak the truth which pleases God. People might think of me as either a good man or maybe as not so good a man, but God is the one who knows my heart, he tests or approves my heart. It is for certain I do not speak any words about the Gods word with greed in my heart so I need not even try to cover that up. All I desire is to be true to what God has called me to do no matter what anyone might think. I surely believe I am firm about this. I will stand my ground. I desire to please only God.
1 THESSALONIANS
PLEASING GOD
1 Thess 2:3-6
3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed — God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else. NIV
If it is one thing I am sure of is I certainly am not in the business of pleasing people. I think I have rubbed many people the wrong way throughout my life. I think I have even stepped on a few toes when it comes to telling the truth of the message from the Word of God. I think the greatest trouble or opposition I face even with fellow believers is over money. I do not think I preach, teach or write about the truth of God with any impure motive. I do not desire a great following of people. I am not trying to trick people into some false doctrine or do I speak word which please their ears and thus entice them into thinking well of me and give me their approval as a great orator of the Word of God. I do not even desire their well intended ordinations for that to me are nothing more than a man pleasing device. I have even been told those ordinations would give me credibility among men. Is that not simply pleasing men? I think so. I believe I speak as one approved by God as well. God is the one who has called me, and opened all the doors before me. He is the one who has given me the words. He is the one who has developed within me the desire to speak his truth. If it were up to me alone I would hide myself away from people. But I cannot do this because I must please God. I must be about the task he has prepared for me. I must obey the calling he has on my life. I am not sure how well the message I speak sits with people’s hearts but that is not my concern. Oh yes I am concerned about them. I care their understanding the truth of God. But I cannot speak words which please them; I must speak the truth which pleases God. People might think of me as either a good man or maybe as not so good a man, but God is the one who knows my heart, he tests or approves my heart. It is for certain I do not speak any words about the Gods word with greed in my heart so I need not even try to cover that up. All I desire is to be true to what God has called me to do no matter what anyone might think. I surely believe I am firm about this. I will stand my ground. I desire to please only God.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)