1
Thessalonians 5:15 “See that no one
renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for
yourselves and for all.”
Pastor
Obie continued by explaining to us that it is best to begin with the end in mind
and to apply this principle in all of our life, so that when we come to the end
of the road, we hear God say: “Well done good and faithful servant.” Plan it
out and lay it out (just like blueprints, time, finances, resources and material thought
out in advance) with the eternal perspective of Heaven always in front of us as
our overriding goal.
Obie
highlighted the two main things for us to consider, that we need to make things
“right” with. (1) With your relationships. We do not have to wait until our
deathbed to make things right in our life. It’s available to all of us here and
now. It’s not the quantity of your family, friends and acquaintances in life,
but the quality in deep relationships that go beyond simple kindness and
courtesies. Dive deeper than mere surface level for connection. But, do not be
awkward about it, because relationships require trust and take time. Who do you
need to forgive and who do you need to ask forgiveness from? Forgiveness and
reconciliation are the objectives, so actively move towards them daily. Sure,
we live in a “Dog eat dog”, survival of the survivor lawless culture, but the
Christian is not of that God-rejecting world system. Materialistic secular
humanists do not think about the reality that the people that you step on as
you work your way up the ladder of life, you are going to meet again on your
way back down. James 4:17 says, “To him
who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”
The
people of God never burn bridges and always remember that God is right there. Do
not put relationship-building off. Remember that people follow the Hurst with
the coffin to the cemetery; not u-Haul trucks. God places people in your life
to nourish both ways. Develop godly routines to improve and grow the
relationships in your life.
John
14:23 Jesus answered and
said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will
love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”
(2)
With God. Walk in obedience. Make no mistake, delayed obedience is
disobedience. God desires to be the Lord of all of your life; not part of your
life. This includes your finances, your time management, your entertainment
choices, your work ethic, your moral decision-making, your prayer time and your
relationships. Discern God’s voice. Spend time with Him in prayer. If you want
to be alone with God, then you must choose to be free of internal and external
distractions, learning to clothe your soul in divine quietness (even in the
crowded marketplace). But, spend time in corporate prayer with your brothers
and sisters in Christ regularly. Spend time in the living Word of God. The
Bible is Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth,
but it is also the Lord speaking to our hearts through the Holy Spirit to guide
and mature the Child of God in knowledge and wisdom for the “right”
relationships with the world that we have been blessed to make a holy impact on
now. So, spend time in Bible Study also. Spend time in Christian community of
your church family for the fellowship of Believers and the equipping of the
saints for the work of Christ in the larger community. Walk in the Spirit,
making things right.
In
Christ, Brian
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