“I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.”― Albert Schweitzer
JOB 33-34
Job is again judged and rebuked by his friend...
34“Men of understanding declare,
wise men who hear me say to me,
35‘Job speaks without knowledge;
his words lack insight.’
36Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost
for answering like a wicked man!
37To his sin he adds rebellion;
scornfully he claps his hands among us
and multiplies his words against God.”
ACTS 13:24-52Paul and Barnabas preach truth and as a result the Jewish leaders begin to plot against them out of jealousy...
44On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him.46Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. 47For this is what the Lord has commanded us:“ ‘I have made youf a light for the Gentiles,48When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.49The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. 50But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. 51So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium. 52And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
JOURNAL
Good will be opposed. It is part of every story...it is something we can never get around unless we stop being obedient and seek to appease those who oppose us. If that is the route we take then we become opposed to God.
This is tough scripture...it is in these moments where the rubber hits the road of the reality of the gospel in my life. Do I choose obedience and to love or do I choose to appease and get love. It is a choice every moment of every day. This choice shows and is the litmus test of my heart and my God. Do I serve or am I seeking to be served. Following Christ is a life of service...it is a life of sacrifice...it is a life of giving because I have been given...it is a life where I am grateful for the smallest things because they are really the biggest...breath in my lungs, a functioning brain, a beating heart, a body that is energized to act and serve and love. These are the priceless gifts that are so easy to take for granted. These are the gifts that often are dismissed by shame...these are the gifts the enemy minimizes.
Whenever I walk down the path of comparison and doubt I begin to lose focus on the here and now and the opportunities for service that are staring me right in the face and choose rather to cover my life with fig leaves of shame. This is not God's intent...this is not why Christ died. Drop the fig leaves and dare to be loved as I am...as a result I will be empowered to love others just as they are.
This is tough scripture...it is in these moments where the rubber hits the road of the reality of the gospel in my life. Do I choose obedience and to love or do I choose to appease and get love. It is a choice every moment of every day. This choice shows and is the litmus test of my heart and my God. Do I serve or am I seeking to be served. Following Christ is a life of service...it is a life of sacrifice...it is a life of giving because I have been given...it is a life where I am grateful for the smallest things because they are really the biggest...breath in my lungs, a functioning brain, a beating heart, a body that is energized to act and serve and love. These are the priceless gifts that are so easy to take for granted. These are the gifts that often are dismissed by shame...these are the gifts the enemy minimizes.
Whenever I walk down the path of comparison and doubt I begin to lose focus on the here and now and the opportunities for service that are staring me right in the face and choose rather to cover my life with fig leaves of shame. This is not God's intent...this is not why Christ died. Drop the fig leaves and dare to be loved as I am...as a result I will be empowered to love others just as they are.
14“Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
~ JOSHUA 24:14-15
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