Our lives have a voice. At times, it's a voice that can speak far louder than the one that comes forcefully out of our mouths. As followers of Christ, if the opportunity to talk about our experience with our Lord presents itself and we find our mouths shut in silent shame because of the life we've been living in front of present company... we've uncovered a problem.
When the life we're living - what we say and do, doesn't measure up to what we might truthfully say or claim boldly in front of others, we may have a credibility issue. And that issue in that moment isn't just with the person or persons we wish we could speak freely to... but with ourselves... and we know at the same time that the Lord sees it. It suddenly becomes a moment of self acknowledgment - an instant self examination that has the opportunity to result in further growth and maturity... or to become an opportunity for discouragement and spiritual immobility.
The enemy of our souls would prefer the latter, because that's his current business...
1 Peter 5:8-9 (NLT) "8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are."
But our God intends for us to grow, become strong and to mature in Christ. It's a process of transformation that takes time, diligence and attention and can only be achieved by our submission to the work that the Holy Spirit is doing in us. It's the Holy Spirit who calls our attention to the refining work to be done and begins to make the necessary changes in us as we submit to Him. It can be a humbling process, but one intended to move us toward positive growth. We serve a positive God who's intentions toward us are always for good, so there's plenty of reason to willingly submit to His hand and turn those otherwise regretful moments into a positive result - that's always our Lord's business.
There are none of us perfect and it's possible that sooner or later we'll provide ourselves with the opportunity to trip over our own feet spiritually. Pride and arrogance can make it a lot farther fall when we do, which is why it's always better to remain humble before the Lord. Wrong attitudes themselves provide an opportunity for the Lord to provide a humbling lesson. I've experienced that hard fall in my own life because of my own wrong attitude and have consequently become wary of heights. It's far better to remember who I am before Him and my place in His presence than to think more highly of myself than I should. I pray that lesson never bears repeating, but there are moments still when my own inattention can leave an opening for sudden regret and I'm quickly reminded to find my place of repentance. I'm forever grateful for His forgiving grace and patience with me - as with all of us..
1 Peter 5:10-11 (NLT)
10 "In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 11 All power to him forever! Amen."
My point in this is to bring to mind what it is that we might be saying to others with our lives, and to remind that no matter who we are, or even just who we think we are, we're all subject to the possibility of potential failures. As followers of Christ, we serve a positive God, so in those moments when we're faced with our own flaws, we have an opportunity to choose to humbly submit to His positive work in us. Or to give our enemy what he's so anxiously hoping for - allowing him an opportunity to beat us up or even just to revel in watching us beat ourselves up. The enemy's quite happy with either. Choose wisely.
Live the life that speaks the truth of your fellowship with the Lord and always remember that He's listening. What we say with our mouths is very important, but there are times when we'll be reminded that the lives that we live speak louder. Live well, speak well and live without further regret...
Micah 6:8 (NLT) "No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."
When the life we're living - what we say and do, doesn't measure up to what we might truthfully say or claim boldly in front of others, we may have a credibility issue. And that issue in that moment isn't just with the person or persons we wish we could speak freely to... but with ourselves... and we know at the same time that the Lord sees it. It suddenly becomes a moment of self acknowledgment - an instant self examination that has the opportunity to result in further growth and maturity... or to become an opportunity for discouragement and spiritual immobility.
The enemy of our souls would prefer the latter, because that's his current business...
1 Peter 5:8-9 (NLT) "8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are."
But our God intends for us to grow, become strong and to mature in Christ. It's a process of transformation that takes time, diligence and attention and can only be achieved by our submission to the work that the Holy Spirit is doing in us. It's the Holy Spirit who calls our attention to the refining work to be done and begins to make the necessary changes in us as we submit to Him. It can be a humbling process, but one intended to move us toward positive growth. We serve a positive God who's intentions toward us are always for good, so there's plenty of reason to willingly submit to His hand and turn those otherwise regretful moments into a positive result - that's always our Lord's business.
There are none of us perfect and it's possible that sooner or later we'll provide ourselves with the opportunity to trip over our own feet spiritually. Pride and arrogance can make it a lot farther fall when we do, which is why it's always better to remain humble before the Lord. Wrong attitudes themselves provide an opportunity for the Lord to provide a humbling lesson. I've experienced that hard fall in my own life because of my own wrong attitude and have consequently become wary of heights. It's far better to remember who I am before Him and my place in His presence than to think more highly of myself than I should. I pray that lesson never bears repeating, but there are moments still when my own inattention can leave an opening for sudden regret and I'm quickly reminded to find my place of repentance. I'm forever grateful for His forgiving grace and patience with me - as with all of us..
1 Peter 5:10-11 (NLT)
10 "In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 11 All power to him forever! Amen."
My point in this is to bring to mind what it is that we might be saying to others with our lives, and to remind that no matter who we are, or even just who we think we are, we're all subject to the possibility of potential failures. As followers of Christ, we serve a positive God, so in those moments when we're faced with our own flaws, we have an opportunity to choose to humbly submit to His positive work in us. Or to give our enemy what he's so anxiously hoping for - allowing him an opportunity to beat us up or even just to revel in watching us beat ourselves up. The enemy's quite happy with either. Choose wisely.
Live the life that speaks the truth of your fellowship with the Lord and always remember that He's listening. What we say with our mouths is very important, but there are times when we'll be reminded that the lives that we live speak louder. Live well, speak well and live without further regret...
Micah 6:8 (NLT) "No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."
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