Life happens. Quickly. And if we aren't careful, we let opportunities pass us by. We let things catch us by surprise. We let little things become big things. And we become subject to what the world throws at us.
However, since we know that this world and its fleeting desires are passing away (1 John 2:17), it is imperative that we take hold of the life that God has given us and run with perseverance the race that is before us (Hebrews 12:1). I would consider this living proactively, as opposed to living reactively and just taking things as they come. We know that God sent Christ to give us abundant life, but the Prince of the Power of the Air demonstrates his power in the world in an attempt to steal and to kill and to destroy (John 10:10).
When we lose sight of the fact that the enemy has no power over us that we not give to him (John 14:30), we are more and more impacted by his attempts to destroy us. But when we know and are fully aware that our battle has already been won (Romans 16:20), his stabs at us have no effect. This concept is obviously so simple, but when things happen so quickly that all you can do is squeak by the deadlines, the truth sometimes seems too simple and we don't trust that it is true. That is the dangerous time when we let things affect us too much and we are tempted to cut corners or disgrace the fact that we are only here to live our lives for the One who created us.
We must be careful not to let the good things become the enemies of the great things. Know that we are not alone in this fight against the enemy. We know how the story ends. We win. So while we are here, let's take this life proactively and not be distracted by the lies of the enemy.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Calm It Down, People.
"Just because you're sweating at the game, doesn't mean that you're on the field."
I have attended plenty of football games in my time...High school, Christian college, Public college. That means that I have encountered plenty of football "fans" as well...Nice, civil, cordial, annoying, frustrating, cross, hateful, obnoxious, just plain rude.
Here is what I have observed through my experiences...there are people who legitimately cheer for the team through thick and thin, there are people who are happy when the team is doing well and yell a string of explitives if the team is not, there are people who leave after the first quarter as if there is no hope of recovery, there are people who curse the coach and the players on the team that they are "fans" of. And most everyone believes that they can actually do something about the way their team is playing...they think that if they "go where they go and do what they do," all will be well...they think that if they yell loud enough, the coach will miraculously hear them and change the way he is coaching...they think that if they could just be a player on that field, they would never lose a single play, let alone a game.
In thinking about this (and trying not to smack the guy in front of me in the back of the head for yelling worse words than I have heard in months), I realized something. These "fans" are just like "Christians" today.
Some people say they are Christians, but when it really comes down to it and their life is caving in, they wouldn't even think to call on Jesus. Some people think that by being angry with God for a situation, they can actually change His mind. Some people think that if they could only be in charge, nothing would ever go wrong. Some people think that if they tell God frequently enough what He is doing wrong, that He will all of a sudden change His whole plan.
The world has lost the point. The point is not winning every game, never having any struggles, being in control, criticizing the things that come your way. The point is trusting God to work out His purposes, sticking with Him when the whole world turns away, believing that He is making you stronger, becoming more like Christ in everything you do. Just like a coach knows his players and his strategies and his ultimate plan, our Coach is sovereign over everything and He never makes a mistake. Do not let the world define success.
"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." --Micah 6:8.
"'My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,' says the LORD, 'And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.'" --Isaiah 55:8-9.
Wake on up from your slumber, open up your eyes.
I have attended plenty of football games in my time...High school, Christian college, Public college. That means that I have encountered plenty of football "fans" as well...Nice, civil, cordial, annoying, frustrating, cross, hateful, obnoxious, just plain rude.
Here is what I have observed through my experiences...there are people who legitimately cheer for the team through thick and thin, there are people who are happy when the team is doing well and yell a string of explitives if the team is not, there are people who leave after the first quarter as if there is no hope of recovery, there are people who curse the coach and the players on the team that they are "fans" of. And most everyone believes that they can actually do something about the way their team is playing...they think that if they "go where they go and do what they do," all will be well...they think that if they yell loud enough, the coach will miraculously hear them and change the way he is coaching...they think that if they could just be a player on that field, they would never lose a single play, let alone a game.
In thinking about this (and trying not to smack the guy in front of me in the back of the head for yelling worse words than I have heard in months), I realized something. These "fans" are just like "Christians" today.
Some people say they are Christians, but when it really comes down to it and their life is caving in, they wouldn't even think to call on Jesus. Some people think that by being angry with God for a situation, they can actually change His mind. Some people think that if they could only be in charge, nothing would ever go wrong. Some people think that if they tell God frequently enough what He is doing wrong, that He will all of a sudden change His whole plan.
The world has lost the point. The point is not winning every game, never having any struggles, being in control, criticizing the things that come your way. The point is trusting God to work out His purposes, sticking with Him when the whole world turns away, believing that He is making you stronger, becoming more like Christ in everything you do. Just like a coach knows his players and his strategies and his ultimate plan, our Coach is sovereign over everything and He never makes a mistake. Do not let the world define success.
"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." --Micah 6:8.
"'My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,' says the LORD, 'And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.'" --Isaiah 55:8-9.
Wake on up from your slumber, open up your eyes.
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