This week, Michael writes: In Matthew 11, Jesus asked, "To what then shall I compare this generation, and what are they like? We played the flute and you didn't dance, we played a funeral dirge and you didn't mourn. You don't understand because you have no passion and no compassion. How then, can I explain to you the things of heaven?" He said to Nicodemus, "You call yourself a master and a teacher of
Every winning team must master the basics and do them consistently. The fundamentals of the faith are the things that really matter. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. We've got to follow through on our basic assignment according to Colossians 3:2: “Set your affections on things above, not on things of the world.” 2 Timothy 2:4 says, "Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them."
Casual and apathetic are words that characterize people of this world. To be ‘Apathetic’ is not caring about the things that matter. The greatest danger is not that you'll fail in something that matters, but that you'll succeed in something that doesn't matter. Children of God do not fall from fellowship deliberately ... they just gradually stop showing up. Success is not what the world calls success. Rather, success is according to God's terms. Success is mostly showing up for God's assignments ... to be available and open to his calling. Availability is availing myself of His ability. Disappointment is the result of missing our Divine appointments. Disappointment is "disrespecting God" by failing to meet with Him at His appointed time. Every moment in life is an appointment with God. Life becomes difficult when apathetic men and women make wrong choices because they chose not to meet with God. Influence begins with influencing my own mind ... grabbing hold of the reins of my own mind to hold every thought captive to Christ.
In 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, We are called to encourage each other unto words and good deeds to God's glory. According to 1 Peter 2:9, we have each been called by God, who through Christ, has made us worthy of our calling to be a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people that we should show forth the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. However, the natural man is one who looks in the mirror and forgets who he is - James 1:23-24. How do we walk worthy of our calling? We, having received his Holy Spirit, glory not in ourselves, but in Him who has called us to be His servant. Lordship means to make myself a slave to my Lord Jesus Christ ... to make His heart's desire my heart's desire and to make His will my will. For it is God which worketh in you to will and to do of his good pleasure – Philippians 2:13.
We finish Michael's thought-provoking message tomorrow.
In Christ, Brian
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