September 25, 2009
Danielle Joyner Kelley
“I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.” Psalm 118:32.
The saying “if you love something set it free…” is a favorite in society. Truthfully, this saying has more application to our own lives than we often realize. Something we love we often have to set free. God is no different. “You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.” Romans 6:18.
Sometimes God knows that setting us free from certain relationships will keep us focused on Him. It is no secret that others cause us to fall. “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” Genesis 3:6. When God sees your fall as a possibility, expect Him to do whatever He can to protect you.
As Christians we have obligations to help and forgive others. What is missed is that in carrying out our obligations to others, we are to work to stay right with God. Many of our own misperceptions have hampered our ability to do both, and the belief is that when we walk away we are judging and are unforgiving, but this is not necessarily so.
The misperceptions and difficulties come from our “either / or” mentality. For some reason we are under the impression that we cannot remove ourselves from a relationship without judging the other person or refusing to forgive them. In this situation, God is not asking you to decide “either / or”, but He is asking you to choose “and”.
A common misperception is that we can only walk away from relationships that consist of a Christian and a non-believer. “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” 2 Corinthians 6:14. The truth is that God will protect you from any relationship that is causes you to fall. “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.” 2 Thessalonians 3:6.
“Brother” can mean anyone, including those of us together in the Body of Christ. “But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.” 1 Corinthians 5:11.
True freedom comes from knowing the truth, and the truth is that you can walk away and forgive. “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32. When we convince ourselves that it is “either / or” we have taken the focus off of God. If you pray for a person that you have walked away from based on God’s instruction, you have shown God that you forgive them. When you trust Him to help that person, you are showing that you are not judging them, but you are hoping He will help them. Always remember when you are forgiving others; you are doing it for God. He is the one that needs to know before anyone else. “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:17.
On the other side, people often convince themselves that they can leave just anyone that they do not feel is up to their standards. "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 10:37-39.
However, God is not asking us to suffer, but He is asking us to trust first in the only one that will not cause us to feel the mistrust and pain that we cause each other, and that is Him. When both people put Him first in a relationship, not merely in words, but in their lifestyle and actions, there is guarantee of success. “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:17.
In reality, you should never walk away from any relationship without His instruction to do so. Your heart will tell you when it is right if you are relying on the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Only then will you know it is the truth, and moreover,
That you have been set free.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Stacking the Deck...(Dealing with Others Series Part III)
September 24, 2009
Danielle Joyner Kelley
“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” Matthew 6:14.
When someone hurts us, we feel unstable and want to remedy the imbalance. We want to have faith that God will move in to change the situation. When He does not, often we feel that He is punishing us for something we have done. In this situation, we stack the deck against ourselves and place God on the side with the person who hurt us.
In turn, we try to understand why this is happening, and whether God is angry at us. In seeking advice, we are told that there is one thing in particular we should do for the person who caused us the pain, and that is to pray for them. Many people have difficulty praying for someone who hurt them, and moreover, they have difficulty praying for that person to a God that they fear is punishing them.
Deep in those painful situations are opportunities that we often miss due to our hurt. It can be difficult to grasp why the Bible says we should consider these life trials a good thing. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4.
These opportunities are a chance to grow, and are not about punishment, but are about discipline. “When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone…” James 1:13. What God is doing, like a parent, is disciplining His children. When we translate “discipline” into “punishment”, we build a wall where we are scared to trust God and become resentful.
True discipline builds character and strength. When we see a person who is able to resist situations and things they should not give in to, or do certain things that they should, we call them “disciplined” not “punished”. That is because they show strength. “The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business. Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:9-12.
In those hard situations, when you force yourself to pray for a person who hurt you, you are showing that discipline. And with a true understanding of how God works, we would know that prayer for a person who hurt us is exactly what is needed. Put simply, life is short and we do not get many opportunities to get it right. In a painful situation, we have the opportunity to get it right and change. We should pray for those who are capable of hurting us so that they might get the opportunity to change also.
Also, we should know that we cannot ask God to forgive us when we are not willing to do so for others. When we do, we are not appearing as a person who is truly sorry, but we appear as a hypocrite. When we pray for those who have hurt us, we are showing God that we have forgiven them.
Most importantly, forgiving others can change your life inside and out. There is a peace that comes from being able to do something kind to someone who has wronged you that only God can provide. All too often, when someone hurts us we feel our peace has been yanked away, and we feel unstable. In the middle of that circumstance, we have the opportunity to build up with discipline and become a person who relies only on God for our peace and stability, with full assurance,
That only He deals the cards that take the crown.
**Check back for Part IV in the “Dealing with Others Series” on forgiveness when the Bible says you are to have nothing to do with someone.
Danielle Joyner Kelley
“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” Matthew 6:14.
When someone hurts us, we feel unstable and want to remedy the imbalance. We want to have faith that God will move in to change the situation. When He does not, often we feel that He is punishing us for something we have done. In this situation, we stack the deck against ourselves and place God on the side with the person who hurt us.
In turn, we try to understand why this is happening, and whether God is angry at us. In seeking advice, we are told that there is one thing in particular we should do for the person who caused us the pain, and that is to pray for them. Many people have difficulty praying for someone who hurt them, and moreover, they have difficulty praying for that person to a God that they fear is punishing them.
Deep in those painful situations are opportunities that we often miss due to our hurt. It can be difficult to grasp why the Bible says we should consider these life trials a good thing. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4.
These opportunities are a chance to grow, and are not about punishment, but are about discipline. “When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone…” James 1:13. What God is doing, like a parent, is disciplining His children. When we translate “discipline” into “punishment”, we build a wall where we are scared to trust God and become resentful.
True discipline builds character and strength. When we see a person who is able to resist situations and things they should not give in to, or do certain things that they should, we call them “disciplined” not “punished”. That is because they show strength. “The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business. Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:9-12.
In those hard situations, when you force yourself to pray for a person who hurt you, you are showing that discipline. And with a true understanding of how God works, we would know that prayer for a person who hurt us is exactly what is needed. Put simply, life is short and we do not get many opportunities to get it right. In a painful situation, we have the opportunity to get it right and change. We should pray for those who are capable of hurting us so that they might get the opportunity to change also.
Also, we should know that we cannot ask God to forgive us when we are not willing to do so for others. When we do, we are not appearing as a person who is truly sorry, but we appear as a hypocrite. When we pray for those who have hurt us, we are showing God that we have forgiven them.
Most importantly, forgiving others can change your life inside and out. There is a peace that comes from being able to do something kind to someone who has wronged you that only God can provide. All too often, when someone hurts us we feel our peace has been yanked away, and we feel unstable. In the middle of that circumstance, we have the opportunity to build up with discipline and become a person who relies only on God for our peace and stability, with full assurance,
That only He deals the cards that take the crown.
**Check back for Part IV in the “Dealing with Others Series” on forgiveness when the Bible says you are to have nothing to do with someone.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Forgive and Forget...(Dealing with Other Series Part II)
September 21, 2009
Danielle Joyner Kelley
“Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other." Mark 9:50.
Growing up we are taught the famous phrase, “forgive and forget”. Forgiveness is one of the hallmarks of Christianity. In situations where we have to forgive others things can seem difficult and ironically, some of the most troubling situations are when two Christians are involved. In this instance, trouble usually does not come with the “forgive” part, but comes with the “forgetting” part. We are all sinners, and God made forgiveness available to us, but that sinful nature is what hampers our ability to “forget”.
Without question, relationships between Christians are special. On their good side they posses power and understanding beyond what the world has known. However, when one or both of the people fall down, not only do they cause each other to weaken in faith and doubt, but they cause non-believers watching to as well. In many areas of the Bible, God makes it clear to us that He cares very much about what we show non-believers.
Our difficulty with forgetting should cause us to be extremely careful in what we do and say about others. If we do or say something wrong and are forgiven, we know that things are usually not the same. Trust is extremely hard for us to give away, and even harder to give back to someone who has damaged it. "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again?” Mark 9:50. When Christians, armed with the Bible and its principles get caught in this situation with each other, things can get ugly. One or both may fall into self-righteousness and judgment and convince themselves, backed up with scripture, that they are correct.
Clearly, when someone is causing us to fall, God gives a way out. “Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him.” Titus 3:10. The key is that we have warned the person directly. All too often, we see Christians discussing someone within a church body, bible study, and the like, with everyone but the person they are talking about. There are few things that shatter a Christian more than feeling disliked in the place they go to seek God’s help.
In a situation where God is using people to help others, when someone falls off and causes disruption, there is a feeling of total devastation. The person who feels hurt may turn away and react in a sinful manner. We should always ask ourselves what reactions our actions are likely to cause. "And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck.” Mark 9:42.
Also, the person talking about their fellow Christian to others in a negative manner causes a great deal of strife for the rest of the group. The leader of the group or Pastor of a church has to deal with questions of why, and small group leaders have to answer why they invited a person who was capable of violating someone else’s trust. Put simply, the situation caused by someone else’s tongue catches fire and spreads. “Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.” James 3:5.
When someone has befriended us, or joined our church or small group with the pure purpose of growing closer to God, and we judge them and make them feel like an outcast, they often walk away thinking we are representative of the God they are seeking. And only with God’s help can what we have done be undone. “Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” Romans 14:4.
We should not do anything to prevent others from seeking God. “On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Matthew 9:12-13.
Rest assured, it does not matter if we are the most well-known minister, best missionary, most generous giver, best in attendance on Sunday, leader of the church choir, or seen as the best Christian on the block, God pays attention to all of His sheep. Work to make sure that you are not just benefiting others, but you are not harming anyone else as well. "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'” Matthew 25:40.
Remember, God knows who you are benefiting, so make sure that during the time when He would be rewarding you for doing so,
He does not have to spend it correcting your wrong instead.
Danielle Joyner Kelley
“Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other." Mark 9:50.
Growing up we are taught the famous phrase, “forgive and forget”. Forgiveness is one of the hallmarks of Christianity. In situations where we have to forgive others things can seem difficult and ironically, some of the most troubling situations are when two Christians are involved. In this instance, trouble usually does not come with the “forgive” part, but comes with the “forgetting” part. We are all sinners, and God made forgiveness available to us, but that sinful nature is what hampers our ability to “forget”.
Without question, relationships between Christians are special. On their good side they posses power and understanding beyond what the world has known. However, when one or both of the people fall down, not only do they cause each other to weaken in faith and doubt, but they cause non-believers watching to as well. In many areas of the Bible, God makes it clear to us that He cares very much about what we show non-believers.
Our difficulty with forgetting should cause us to be extremely careful in what we do and say about others. If we do or say something wrong and are forgiven, we know that things are usually not the same. Trust is extremely hard for us to give away, and even harder to give back to someone who has damaged it. "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again?” Mark 9:50. When Christians, armed with the Bible and its principles get caught in this situation with each other, things can get ugly. One or both may fall into self-righteousness and judgment and convince themselves, backed up with scripture, that they are correct.
Clearly, when someone is causing us to fall, God gives a way out. “Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him.” Titus 3:10. The key is that we have warned the person directly. All too often, we see Christians discussing someone within a church body, bible study, and the like, with everyone but the person they are talking about. There are few things that shatter a Christian more than feeling disliked in the place they go to seek God’s help.
In a situation where God is using people to help others, when someone falls off and causes disruption, there is a feeling of total devastation. The person who feels hurt may turn away and react in a sinful manner. We should always ask ourselves what reactions our actions are likely to cause. "And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck.” Mark 9:42.
Also, the person talking about their fellow Christian to others in a negative manner causes a great deal of strife for the rest of the group. The leader of the group or Pastor of a church has to deal with questions of why, and small group leaders have to answer why they invited a person who was capable of violating someone else’s trust. Put simply, the situation caused by someone else’s tongue catches fire and spreads. “Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.” James 3:5.
When someone has befriended us, or joined our church or small group with the pure purpose of growing closer to God, and we judge them and make them feel like an outcast, they often walk away thinking we are representative of the God they are seeking. And only with God’s help can what we have done be undone. “Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” Romans 14:4.
We should not do anything to prevent others from seeking God. “On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Matthew 9:12-13.
Rest assured, it does not matter if we are the most well-known minister, best missionary, most generous giver, best in attendance on Sunday, leader of the church choir, or seen as the best Christian on the block, God pays attention to all of His sheep. Work to make sure that you are not just benefiting others, but you are not harming anyone else as well. "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'” Matthew 25:40.
Remember, God knows who you are benefiting, so make sure that during the time when He would be rewarding you for doing so,
He does not have to spend it correcting your wrong instead.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Do to Others...(Dealing with Others Series Part I)
September 19, 2009
Danielle Joyner Kelley
“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:31.
One of the most challenging things we encounter in life is dealing with others. Few problems occur when we do to others what we want done to us. The hard lessons come when we do to others what we would not want done to us, and as a result, what we do comes back as a lesson for us to learn from.
When others hurt us a different problem arises, and that is our reaction. Instead of dealing with the hurt, we often react with judgment and pride, and end up making things much worse. Simply put, in our reaction we usually do not do what we would want done.
There are certain ways to handle these situations. "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” Matthew 18:15-17.
First, ask yourself if your hurt is based on personal experience. Personal experience means something has been done to you directly. As stated, it is a sin “against you”. Each situation needs to be evaluated and dealt with individually not collectively. We should not collectively transfer past wrongs others have committed onto others, nor something done to someone else onto ourselves, and we should not sway others to do so either.
Second, ask yourself if you have gone to the person alone before you went to anyone else. As stated, that should be the first step. If not, you are likely to gossip about the situation to others or confront the person publicly instead of talking to them alone. These reactions occur because we want validation, others to see our side, and to embarrass or get even. We work to show others how horrible the person is, and try to impress them with comments about how we would never do the same thing. However, the true goal is to change harmful behaviors. Outsiders to the situation cannot change the behaviors we complain about, and confronting a person in front of others will only cause embarrassment and anger. If we are really bothered by something a person does, we would go to them alone first, where change can actually occur.
We may feel validated momentarily, but in the long run we suffer because the validation is replaced by mistrust in us. When we gossip about a person or embarrass them in front of others, all we show is what we are capable of and others maybe next. “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.” Romans 12:17.
Also, we suffer because we are doing something just as bad. God covers all bases, and tells us to go to the person first, and if we do not go to the person first and we attempt to slander them to others, He tells them not to associate with us. “But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.” 1 Corinthians 5:11. Instead we are to “be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.” Titus 3:1-2.
Third, go back to the mirror, and examine whether you have done the same to anyone else. This is the one time you should be collective in your thoughts on who hurt who. If you did the same thing to someone else, you are receiving the “comes around” of the “goes around”. The truth is what we do to others will be done to us. “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:2.
Always examine whether your own actions are causing hurt or pain, and look back to see how you felt when the same things were done to you. When we do this, we know that we should only act from personal experience because we would not want others judging us for a situation that had nothing to do with them. Also, we know that we should go to the person who hurt us alone first, instead of gossiping or embarrassing them because that is what we would want done for ourselves. Moreover, we know if we go against those principles, we are doing to others what we would not want done to us, and in turn,
We will suffer from exactly what we are complaining about.
Danielle Joyner Kelley
“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:31.
One of the most challenging things we encounter in life is dealing with others. Few problems occur when we do to others what we want done to us. The hard lessons come when we do to others what we would not want done to us, and as a result, what we do comes back as a lesson for us to learn from.
When others hurt us a different problem arises, and that is our reaction. Instead of dealing with the hurt, we often react with judgment and pride, and end up making things much worse. Simply put, in our reaction we usually do not do what we would want done.
There are certain ways to handle these situations. "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” Matthew 18:15-17.
First, ask yourself if your hurt is based on personal experience. Personal experience means something has been done to you directly. As stated, it is a sin “against you”. Each situation needs to be evaluated and dealt with individually not collectively. We should not collectively transfer past wrongs others have committed onto others, nor something done to someone else onto ourselves, and we should not sway others to do so either.
Second, ask yourself if you have gone to the person alone before you went to anyone else. As stated, that should be the first step. If not, you are likely to gossip about the situation to others or confront the person publicly instead of talking to them alone. These reactions occur because we want validation, others to see our side, and to embarrass or get even. We work to show others how horrible the person is, and try to impress them with comments about how we would never do the same thing. However, the true goal is to change harmful behaviors. Outsiders to the situation cannot change the behaviors we complain about, and confronting a person in front of others will only cause embarrassment and anger. If we are really bothered by something a person does, we would go to them alone first, where change can actually occur.
We may feel validated momentarily, but in the long run we suffer because the validation is replaced by mistrust in us. When we gossip about a person or embarrass them in front of others, all we show is what we are capable of and others maybe next. “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.” Romans 12:17.
Also, we suffer because we are doing something just as bad. God covers all bases, and tells us to go to the person first, and if we do not go to the person first and we attempt to slander them to others, He tells them not to associate with us. “But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.” 1 Corinthians 5:11. Instead we are to “be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.” Titus 3:1-2.
Third, go back to the mirror, and examine whether you have done the same to anyone else. This is the one time you should be collective in your thoughts on who hurt who. If you did the same thing to someone else, you are receiving the “comes around” of the “goes around”. The truth is what we do to others will be done to us. “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:2.
Always examine whether your own actions are causing hurt or pain, and look back to see how you felt when the same things were done to you. When we do this, we know that we should only act from personal experience because we would not want others judging us for a situation that had nothing to do with them. Also, we know that we should go to the person who hurt us alone first, instead of gossiping or embarrassing them because that is what we would want done for ourselves. Moreover, we know if we go against those principles, we are doing to others what we would not want done to us, and in turn,
We will suffer from exactly what we are complaining about.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Tree of Life...
September 11, 2009
Danielle Joyner Kelley
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17.
When tragic events take place, we embark on a search for answers. The bad things that happen throw us off balance, and our natural instinct is to bring the scales back to level position. The questions of why God lets bad things happen, and why He allows people to suffer consequences for the sins of others abound. When we ask those questions, we are forgetting that God was and is on our side, not wanting any sins or consequences to flow.
From the beginning of time, He tried to prevent this from happening. “And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." Genesis 2:16-17. God gave us choices, and when He told Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree of the “knowledge of good and evil”, He walked away.
When man chose to disobey Him there were consequences. Often we do not want to pay the price ourselves, but when others wrong us we want them held accountable. For one to pay and another to slip by is an injustice. As the author of justice, for God to pretend the sin never took place would be unjust, and justice requires consequences. Once man fell into sin, God could not allow man to eat from the tree of life. “And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." Genesis 3:22. As a parent, He has trust in our abilities, and consequences for our falls.
When we lose focus in the right direction, the tempter moves in. "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." Genesis 3:4-5.
But God is so just that He made sure there were consequences for the tempter as well. After Adam and Eve’s admission of guilt, God told Satan, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." Genesis 3:15. Enmity is hostility, and God put that hostility between us and Satan. In turn, Eve’s offspring would crush Satan’s head, and Satan would strike his heel. And this is the way God would right the wrong.
Instead of doing it this way, God could have chosen to end all sin, but that would have meant ending all of us. He flooded the world with Noah, but the world filled with evil once again. God showed us that to truly end sin’s power over us it would take something huge to allow us to access the tree of life again. Somehow, we would have to be cleansed of our sins. As the perfect and just God that He is, He kept His word, and sent one of Eve’s offspring to accomplish the task. Through Jesus death and resurrection, the grave was conquered and Satan was defeated. He is so loving that instead of ridding the world of all sin, and thus ridding the world of us, He took our mistakes upon Himself.
As such a loving God, we never get less than all that He has, and even with the possibility of forgiveness through Jesus, He knows we will sin, but He gives us every opportunity not to. Even with one of Eve and Adam’s sons, He was there telling him to turn back. “Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." Genesis 4:6-7. As it was in the beginning, we still have the choice to make. When others do not make the right choice, we all suffer the consequence, just as mankind suffered for Adam’s fall.
God brings light and victory into tragedy, seen through Jesus death. Through our obsession with tree that caused the fall of man, we often forget that there were two trees in the garden. The other tree was the tree of life. Now we know that the tree of life is Jesus Christ. “Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6. And even prior to the prophesy of Eve’s offspring crushing Satan so early on in the Bible, Jesus always was. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Revelation 22:13.
Still, there is an enmity between mankind and Satan, and he spends his time working to strike every heel that he can. When he does and we see the tragedy and horror before our eyes, he knows that we will seek answers. That is the exact moment he whispers to us, “don’t you want to know why God is letting this happen?”.
That is when you remember that buying into his question of knowledge is what caused all the bad to start with, and in remembering that fact,
You just answered your own question.
Danielle Joyner Kelley
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17.
When tragic events take place, we embark on a search for answers. The bad things that happen throw us off balance, and our natural instinct is to bring the scales back to level position. The questions of why God lets bad things happen, and why He allows people to suffer consequences for the sins of others abound. When we ask those questions, we are forgetting that God was and is on our side, not wanting any sins or consequences to flow.
From the beginning of time, He tried to prevent this from happening. “And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." Genesis 2:16-17. God gave us choices, and when He told Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree of the “knowledge of good and evil”, He walked away.
When man chose to disobey Him there were consequences. Often we do not want to pay the price ourselves, but when others wrong us we want them held accountable. For one to pay and another to slip by is an injustice. As the author of justice, for God to pretend the sin never took place would be unjust, and justice requires consequences. Once man fell into sin, God could not allow man to eat from the tree of life. “And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." Genesis 3:22. As a parent, He has trust in our abilities, and consequences for our falls.
When we lose focus in the right direction, the tempter moves in. "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." Genesis 3:4-5.
But God is so just that He made sure there were consequences for the tempter as well. After Adam and Eve’s admission of guilt, God told Satan, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." Genesis 3:15. Enmity is hostility, and God put that hostility between us and Satan. In turn, Eve’s offspring would crush Satan’s head, and Satan would strike his heel. And this is the way God would right the wrong.
Instead of doing it this way, God could have chosen to end all sin, but that would have meant ending all of us. He flooded the world with Noah, but the world filled with evil once again. God showed us that to truly end sin’s power over us it would take something huge to allow us to access the tree of life again. Somehow, we would have to be cleansed of our sins. As the perfect and just God that He is, He kept His word, and sent one of Eve’s offspring to accomplish the task. Through Jesus death and resurrection, the grave was conquered and Satan was defeated. He is so loving that instead of ridding the world of all sin, and thus ridding the world of us, He took our mistakes upon Himself.
As such a loving God, we never get less than all that He has, and even with the possibility of forgiveness through Jesus, He knows we will sin, but He gives us every opportunity not to. Even with one of Eve and Adam’s sons, He was there telling him to turn back. “Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." Genesis 4:6-7. As it was in the beginning, we still have the choice to make. When others do not make the right choice, we all suffer the consequence, just as mankind suffered for Adam’s fall.
God brings light and victory into tragedy, seen through Jesus death. Through our obsession with tree that caused the fall of man, we often forget that there were two trees in the garden. The other tree was the tree of life. Now we know that the tree of life is Jesus Christ. “Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6. And even prior to the prophesy of Eve’s offspring crushing Satan so early on in the Bible, Jesus always was. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Revelation 22:13.
Still, there is an enmity between mankind and Satan, and he spends his time working to strike every heel that he can. When he does and we see the tragedy and horror before our eyes, he knows that we will seek answers. That is the exact moment he whispers to us, “don’t you want to know why God is letting this happen?”.
That is when you remember that buying into his question of knowledge is what caused all the bad to start with, and in remembering that fact,
You just answered your own question.
Hands and Feet...(Power Within Series Part III)
September 11, 2009
Danielle Joyner Kelley
“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 15:5-6.
We are taught from a very young age that actions speak louder than words. The idea is that we should love and serve others not merely with promises we do not intend to keep, but in carrying out what we promise to do. In fact, God is a God of action. “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:18.
However, in many cases, words are the action required to serve others. God made it clear there is power in our words. We are not told that He made the world by atoms and molecules, but we are told that He spoke it into existence. “And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.” Genesis 1:3. As His children, our own tongue carries enormous power to speak things into existence as well. “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21.
Clearly our words affect others. For years courts have dealt with issues involving the strength of words. For example, if someone is standing on the edge of a cliff and you run up and yell “boo” behind them, their physical reaction may be to fall forward. Or if you run into an auditorium and yell “fire”, people will know to physically leave the building.
God uses the power in our words so that we can help each other. “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.” Hebrews 3:13.
He knows the trials and tribulations we face, and through giving us the gift of encouragement, He will provide His strength to others in need. “But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see." Deuteronomy 3:28. A person faced with making a difficult decision may pray for guidance, and then God may work through you to encourage them to make the right decision. Or a person going through a terrible time may pray for strength, and God may work through you to encourage them not to give up.
All too often, we do not speak these words because we are afraid of looking intrusive or foolish. Simply put, we don’t like rejection. That is when we have to remember that we work for God, and when God works through us to help others, He is not rejecting us. The only rejection we fear is a person’s rejection, and that should never be our focus.
God wants to ease our suffering. Just as when He commissioned Moses to lead the slaves out of Egypt, He had heard the peoples cry. “The LORD said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey.” Exodus 3:7-8.
Frequently, we complain that God is not answering our prayers. We have to remember that He works through us, and we are His hands and feet here on Earth. One of the best opportunities to show Him that you have truly put Him ahead of yourself is to speak encouragement to someone even when you fear rejection. In doing so, you show God your allegiance, you conquer fear, and most important,
You become the answer to someone’s prayer.
Danielle Joyner Kelley
“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 15:5-6.
We are taught from a very young age that actions speak louder than words. The idea is that we should love and serve others not merely with promises we do not intend to keep, but in carrying out what we promise to do. In fact, God is a God of action. “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:18.
However, in many cases, words are the action required to serve others. God made it clear there is power in our words. We are not told that He made the world by atoms and molecules, but we are told that He spoke it into existence. “And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.” Genesis 1:3. As His children, our own tongue carries enormous power to speak things into existence as well. “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21.
Clearly our words affect others. For years courts have dealt with issues involving the strength of words. For example, if someone is standing on the edge of a cliff and you run up and yell “boo” behind them, their physical reaction may be to fall forward. Or if you run into an auditorium and yell “fire”, people will know to physically leave the building.
God uses the power in our words so that we can help each other. “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.” Hebrews 3:13.
He knows the trials and tribulations we face, and through giving us the gift of encouragement, He will provide His strength to others in need. “But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see." Deuteronomy 3:28. A person faced with making a difficult decision may pray for guidance, and then God may work through you to encourage them to make the right decision. Or a person going through a terrible time may pray for strength, and God may work through you to encourage them not to give up.
All too often, we do not speak these words because we are afraid of looking intrusive or foolish. Simply put, we don’t like rejection. That is when we have to remember that we work for God, and when God works through us to help others, He is not rejecting us. The only rejection we fear is a person’s rejection, and that should never be our focus.
God wants to ease our suffering. Just as when He commissioned Moses to lead the slaves out of Egypt, He had heard the peoples cry. “The LORD said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey.” Exodus 3:7-8.
Frequently, we complain that God is not answering our prayers. We have to remember that He works through us, and we are His hands and feet here on Earth. One of the best opportunities to show Him that you have truly put Him ahead of yourself is to speak encouragement to someone even when you fear rejection. In doing so, you show God your allegiance, you conquer fear, and most important,
You become the answer to someone’s prayer.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Sweeping Your Doorstep...(Power Within Series Part II)
September 4, 2009
Danielle Joyner Kelley
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.” Ephesians 2:1-2.
As Christians, who have the Holy Spirit living within us from the moment of our salvation, we often fail to see the power we have in us. Jesus told us all that we would do even greater things than He did. “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” John 14:12.
When Jesus went to live with the Father, He sent to us the Holy Spirit. One of the Holy Spirit’s roles in your life is to work on your disobedience through conviction. Conviction is the point of action based on a Spirit’s message that you did something incorrectly. “When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.” John 16:8-11.
Unfortunately for many, a conviction is missed due to a feeling of condemnation. Someone feels so guilty about something they have done in their own lives that they start trying to cover it up. The way they cover it up is by judging others, acting self-righteous, and making moral judgments about everyone but themselves.
Those people frequently like to play victim and discuss how horrible the world has treated them or how wrong everyone else is. Given that we are all human, and sinners according to God, that is hypocritical at best. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.” Matthew 7:3-5. Simply put, the old saying is true, sweep your own doorstep first before telling other people how to sweep theirs.
Falling victim to self-condemnation is a huge missed opportunity because listening to and following convictions are the best way to bring about the most positive change in your own life. That is because they is coming from God.
In life, it is hard to deal with someone who refuses to follow their own convictions and judges everyone else. They have a tendency to bring you down and then you will stop listening to your own convictions because you will feel their condemnation. Simply put, their negativity can spread to you.
The best thing you can do when confronted with those people is to not judge them because then you will be judged as well. "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1-2. Remember what they are doing is causing you pain, and they will be judged for it. Do not sign up for what they are going to get by doing it in return.
However, you are under no obligation to stick around and listen or answer to them. "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.” Matthew 7:6.
The way to avoid feeling condemned and continue following the Holy Spirit’s guidance on your own convictions is to recognize these people, and refuse to give in to their negativity. You can try with many people and succeed, but you will not succeed with everyone. In this instance, God gives you an out. “But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.” Titus 3:9-11.
Remember it is God’s approval that you are working for and not mans. The most you can do is recognize the power of following your own convictions, love others, and then when you see someone judging you because of their own faults do not judge them and tell them how dirty their own doorstep is, instead smile and tell them God loves them, and then,
Hand them a broom.
Danielle Joyner Kelley
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.” Ephesians 2:1-2.
As Christians, who have the Holy Spirit living within us from the moment of our salvation, we often fail to see the power we have in us. Jesus told us all that we would do even greater things than He did. “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” John 14:12.
When Jesus went to live with the Father, He sent to us the Holy Spirit. One of the Holy Spirit’s roles in your life is to work on your disobedience through conviction. Conviction is the point of action based on a Spirit’s message that you did something incorrectly. “When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.” John 16:8-11.
Unfortunately for many, a conviction is missed due to a feeling of condemnation. Someone feels so guilty about something they have done in their own lives that they start trying to cover it up. The way they cover it up is by judging others, acting self-righteous, and making moral judgments about everyone but themselves.
Those people frequently like to play victim and discuss how horrible the world has treated them or how wrong everyone else is. Given that we are all human, and sinners according to God, that is hypocritical at best. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.” Matthew 7:3-5. Simply put, the old saying is true, sweep your own doorstep first before telling other people how to sweep theirs.
Falling victim to self-condemnation is a huge missed opportunity because listening to and following convictions are the best way to bring about the most positive change in your own life. That is because they is coming from God.
In life, it is hard to deal with someone who refuses to follow their own convictions and judges everyone else. They have a tendency to bring you down and then you will stop listening to your own convictions because you will feel their condemnation. Simply put, their negativity can spread to you.
The best thing you can do when confronted with those people is to not judge them because then you will be judged as well. "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1-2. Remember what they are doing is causing you pain, and they will be judged for it. Do not sign up for what they are going to get by doing it in return.
However, you are under no obligation to stick around and listen or answer to them. "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.” Matthew 7:6.
The way to avoid feeling condemned and continue following the Holy Spirit’s guidance on your own convictions is to recognize these people, and refuse to give in to their negativity. You can try with many people and succeed, but you will not succeed with everyone. In this instance, God gives you an out. “But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.” Titus 3:9-11.
Remember it is God’s approval that you are working for and not mans. The most you can do is recognize the power of following your own convictions, love others, and then when you see someone judging you because of their own faults do not judge them and tell them how dirty their own doorstep is, instead smile and tell them God loves them, and then,
Hand them a broom.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Power Over Pride...(Power Within Series Part I)
September 3, 2009
Danielle Joyner Kelley
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8.
Often we want others to change in ways that benefit us. This is because we do not want to do the work it takes to bring about change in our own lives and we fail to see the power that is within us. However, we spend countless hours trying to convince others to change, and if we would invest that time into recognizing our own abilities, we will have completed the change we desire.
People often get caught up in judgment, revenge, complaining, and self-righteousness. When we do this we are tapping more into our pride than our power. For example, nothing hurts quite as much as when we fell unappreciated. Whether it is at work, in relationships, at home, or anywhere else, people hate to feel that their worth as a person is going unnoticed.
This is a common problem in our society. We are much better at saying “please” when we want something than we are at saying “thank you” when we have what we want. When we focus on the fact that someone did not say “thank you” we are showing that our pride is hurt and we tend to dwell on that fact.
If you catch yourself dwelling on your pride rather than your power remember that your Savior is the “same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8. Through listening to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, that inner voice inside of you, you are working to be more in line with your Teacher. “A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.” Luke 6:40. Simply put, you need to work in your own life to be consistent, and the same now, tomorrow and forever. Consistency equals dependability. Simply put, keep acting and stop reacting.
Remember you will be judged for your own actions, and not those of someone else. You are working to be like your Teacher, and He is the Judge. He will hold those accountable that need to be held accountable. You keep moving forward knowing that you are working for Him. “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:46-48.
Remember, you are aiming for rewards, not judgment. For every time you served someone else who forgot about you once their dilemma was over, God will bless you. Just as we are not to seek revenge, we are to seek only His reward and not that of man, with full assurance,
In Him, no good deed will go unnoticed.
Danielle Joyner Kelley
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8.
Often we want others to change in ways that benefit us. This is because we do not want to do the work it takes to bring about change in our own lives and we fail to see the power that is within us. However, we spend countless hours trying to convince others to change, and if we would invest that time into recognizing our own abilities, we will have completed the change we desire.
People often get caught up in judgment, revenge, complaining, and self-righteousness. When we do this we are tapping more into our pride than our power. For example, nothing hurts quite as much as when we fell unappreciated. Whether it is at work, in relationships, at home, or anywhere else, people hate to feel that their worth as a person is going unnoticed.
This is a common problem in our society. We are much better at saying “please” when we want something than we are at saying “thank you” when we have what we want. When we focus on the fact that someone did not say “thank you” we are showing that our pride is hurt and we tend to dwell on that fact.
If you catch yourself dwelling on your pride rather than your power remember that your Savior is the “same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8. Through listening to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, that inner voice inside of you, you are working to be more in line with your Teacher. “A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.” Luke 6:40. Simply put, you need to work in your own life to be consistent, and the same now, tomorrow and forever. Consistency equals dependability. Simply put, keep acting and stop reacting.
Remember you will be judged for your own actions, and not those of someone else. You are working to be like your Teacher, and He is the Judge. He will hold those accountable that need to be held accountable. You keep moving forward knowing that you are working for Him. “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:46-48.
Remember, you are aiming for rewards, not judgment. For every time you served someone else who forgot about you once their dilemma was over, God will bless you. Just as we are not to seek revenge, we are to seek only His reward and not that of man, with full assurance,
In Him, no good deed will go unnoticed.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
The Finish Line...(Change Within Series Part IV)
September 1, 2009
Danielle Joyner Kelley
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:24.
Part of running the race in life is to make sure that we engage in fair competition. People often say that nice guys finish last, which leaves us with the impression that if you are not nice, you will come in first.
In truth, nice guys finish last because they thought of everyone else but themselves. While we define the winner as whoever comes in first, God does not. “Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last." Luke 13:30.
In every race there are rules that we must obey in order to make sure we are not disqualified. “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:25-27.
For many runners, winning seems as if it is the most important accomplishment. The problem is when the idea of winning becomes so important to us that we make a decision to run our own race in ways to reach the finish line first.
Jesus told us all how to run our race. "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40.
What this means is that every step we take, and every rule and command we obey during the game, should be because of one of the two commandments Jesus discussed. What we do, or do not do, should always be out of love for God and love for others. When we fail to do either, we may appear to the world as if we crossed that line first, but in reality we gained nothing. Moreover, no one else gained from the way we ran our race either.
For instance, if we knock others down to get ahead, we end up losing. “Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.” 2 Timothy 2:5-7.
When we break the rules to get ahead, we become hypocritical. When it comes to everyone else we want only those who obey the rules to get the crown. We want chief executives put in prison for cheating their workers and gaining wealth, and we want our politicians to answer for even the smallest of sins. Simply put, we are quick to call out other runners faults with no regard to our own.
In reality, we have only our own lane to run in, and nothing we do can force another runner to run a certain way. The best thing we can do is run our own race in a way that motivates others to do the same. “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16.
Running the race in this manner assures you that when the world points out runners ahead of you in an attempt to convince you that you are losing, you will know the truth of what lies ahead. As you keep going in faith through those moments, you are in training, growing stronger,
While God measures you for your crown.
Danielle Joyner Kelley
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:24.
Part of running the race in life is to make sure that we engage in fair competition. People often say that nice guys finish last, which leaves us with the impression that if you are not nice, you will come in first.
In truth, nice guys finish last because they thought of everyone else but themselves. While we define the winner as whoever comes in first, God does not. “Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last." Luke 13:30.
In every race there are rules that we must obey in order to make sure we are not disqualified. “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:25-27.
For many runners, winning seems as if it is the most important accomplishment. The problem is when the idea of winning becomes so important to us that we make a decision to run our own race in ways to reach the finish line first.
Jesus told us all how to run our race. "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40.
What this means is that every step we take, and every rule and command we obey during the game, should be because of one of the two commandments Jesus discussed. What we do, or do not do, should always be out of love for God and love for others. When we fail to do either, we may appear to the world as if we crossed that line first, but in reality we gained nothing. Moreover, no one else gained from the way we ran our race either.
For instance, if we knock others down to get ahead, we end up losing. “Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.” 2 Timothy 2:5-7.
When we break the rules to get ahead, we become hypocritical. When it comes to everyone else we want only those who obey the rules to get the crown. We want chief executives put in prison for cheating their workers and gaining wealth, and we want our politicians to answer for even the smallest of sins. Simply put, we are quick to call out other runners faults with no regard to our own.
In reality, we have only our own lane to run in, and nothing we do can force another runner to run a certain way. The best thing we can do is run our own race in a way that motivates others to do the same. “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16.
Running the race in this manner assures you that when the world points out runners ahead of you in an attempt to convince you that you are losing, you will know the truth of what lies ahead. As you keep going in faith through those moments, you are in training, growing stronger,
While God measures you for your crown.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)