OCTOBER 9, 2023

 “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” 

― Ralph Waldo Emerson

ISAIAH 41-42

 10So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (41:10)

COLOSSIANS 1

We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,^e 10so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you^f to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

JOURNAL 

 Paul in writing to the Colossians emphasizes that his desire is that they will receive the spirit in order to "live a life worthy of God", "pleasing him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work..." this spells out what my life is to be consumed doing...it is laboring in love and living a life that honors God in action and deed? Paul says that God has already "rescued us" and that we are now living in the "kingdom of the son".  We are forgiven and redeemed! Not in the future...now.

How then am I living this out? Is my life reflective of God's kingdom? Is my existence active and passionate? OR is my focus on what I have or what I have done?  Every day, every moment is a gift and as a believer I have been made new in a way that changes my focus and my goal. I am to share this good news in loving others and taking an active existence in living out the love of God in all I do and say.

Man this is good news but it also changes the game...its the opposite of the goals and focus of our culture. We have a culture that rewards, accumulation, greed and selfishness...however when tragedy strikes we see and know that what really matters are acts of love and sacrifice, not those of self-preservation and greed. The heroes of any great tragedy of the past history of mankind  are those that demonstrated sacrifice and love in the face of personal suffering, heartache and death. Position, title, wealth, social status...none of that mattered when tragedy struck...what mattered were acts of love, sacrifice and courage. 

The benefit of history is that we get to learn priceless lessons. We get to see what truly matters and the characteristics of true success. Each moment we get on this planet is a gift. I don't know how many I'll have. Yet I do get to choose how I live them. I have a choice...do I live it with gratitude, trusting and boldly living out God's love or do I live in regret, bitterness, fear and greed? According to scripture I have all I need to live a life that will honor God.  I have all I need to live a life that "bears fruit in every good work". I have been "strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might". There are no excuses...

11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

PHILIPPIANS 4:11-13