Don't Waste Your Gifting from God - Work Hard -- Philippians 2:12-13

S. Philippians 2:12-13

"...work hard to show the results of your salvation obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him."

O. The word "work hard" is the Greek "katergazomai" and it means "to work, produce, accomplish," literally "work down to the end point, to an exact definite conclusion; bring to decisive finality." As a result of our salvation, God desires for us to work hard and as we do, He energizes (work=energo) us to produce fruit and cast light.

Simply said, we need to do our part in using our gifts to produce light (bearing fruit) and as we do this, God does His part in supplying us energy so that what we do actually results in fruitfulness and illumination for others.

A. I will continue to work hard, using my gifts and having a fruitful life; producing light to illumine others. I have assurance that as I do my part, God will provide me the energy and opportunities to continue in this and to be pleasing to Him.

P. Thank you Father for the gifts you have given me. I ask for your strength and might in the deployment of these gifts. I so much wish to provide light to others and to be pleasing to you. In Jesus' name!

Too Much of a Good Thing Can Be Harmful - Seek Balance and Moderation

S. Ephesians 4:1 "Therefore, I, (Paul), a prisoner for serving the Lord beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called of God."

O. I could focus on the word call and calling but I will simply leave it as this - our calling is God gifting us to serve Him right now for the expansion of His kingdom. However, I do want to focus on the word "worthy."  It is the Greek word "Axios" (axis) which means "having balance." It is the idea that I've been called by God and therefore, I should have balance in my life. It is better not to be overdoing things, but to have balance or moderation in all things.

There's an old saying that goes like this, "too much of a good thing can be a bad thing." I think you can apply this to many areas: food, exercise, work, how we spend our leisure time.  Therefore, Paul says we should have a balance to our life. Our lives, which are to be lived out to glorify God, should model this balance .

A. I enjoy reading, prayer and meditation; yet I know my body needs movement. So I seek out physical exercise. Lately I've been putting some time in the gym. I don't spend an enormous amount of time in the gym, but I hit it daily for about 35-45 minutes.  It's been suggested that after 45 minutes of a physical workout you won't accomplish much.

I love all sorts of food. One day last week was apparently National Donut day. Someone brought into the school 4-5 boxes of Krispe Kreme donuts. I love them. I have said to people, "Only God could have made the Krispe Kreme but the devil wants me to have 12 of them." I don't need 12 and I certainly didn't need the 4 that I had that day. What we need to do (at what I need to do) is to seek out balance and moderation in many of my activities. 

I want that balance in my life so I can bring honor and glory to God. It's a small part of walking worthy of the calling He has on my life.

P. Thank you Father for this refreshing Word and reminder today. I pray that I and those who are reading this will seek and find that special balance in our lives so that  our lives are a reflection of you and bring you honor and praise. In Jesus name, Amen!

Many Advisers Bring Success -- May 30, 2018

S. Proverbs 15:22 "Plans go wrong for lack of advice. Many advisers bring success."

O. Several things I glean from this passage today. First, planning is a good thing. People who do not plan, plan to fail; people who plan, find success.  Elsewhere in Proverbs are such great passages such as "..committing our plans to the Lord brings success..." (Proverbs 16:3 ); and one of my favorites, "The horse is prepared for battle but victory belongs to the Lord." ( Proverbs 21:31 ). Without question, good planning is essential to lead a successful and fruitful life.

However along with planning is the place of advisers. The Proverb states "many advisers." The word "many" is from the Hebrew "rabad" and means "multitude, abundance or greatness." The word "adviser" is from the Hebrew "sod" and means friendship, intimate and fellowship.  So together it's pretty clear that having quite a few people who are close to you, intimate with you, people that you can circle up with, fire questions or thoughts back and forth is good and essential for planning.  Further, this idea of adviser is not just anyone, but someone who knows you and can offer you the best insight based upon their relationship to you.

The idea of many advisers is that it slows us down, keeps us from being impulsive and acting upon our emotions. It allows us the opportunity to see into our blind spots; weigh and consider alternatives and then, with that information commit our decisions, our plans to the Lord which He promises will result with success.

A. I have made plenty of impulsive and solo decisions in my life. I have also listened to advice of well meaning people, but people who did not really know me nor my areas of gifting.  More recently I've tried to surround myself with people who know me and have an interest in me. I have always tried to find the combination of an older person who has walked where I desire to walk; a contemporary who is experiencing things I experience because we share the same season of life; and a younger person that I can pour into whatever amount of wisdom I've been blessed to receive. 

P. Thank you Father for the wisdom of many advisers; godly people who have wisdom and that you have place into my life. I pray that the Holy Spirit will give me enlightenment to receive and to act upon the wisdom that is given me. I commit then these plans to you in Jesus name!