Having Peace In The Right Place

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,"
Romans 5:1 (NKJV)

Have you ever been in the wrong place?  Maybe you were looking for a classroom in a school and by mistake you went into the wrong room, or maybe you were driving somewhere, and you turned the wrong way into a one-way street.  When you know you are in the wrong place, you do not have any sense of peace, but rather you feel a bit anxious, because you know something is out of place and you want to get out of there.  Being in the right place is a good thing, and being in the wrong place makes us uncomfortable.

So many Christians are trying to do the right things in their life to please God.  This is a good thing to do, if we do it for the right reason.  We need to be in the right place in our life with how we live, to please God, as the Bible talks about, but we also need to realize that we are already spiritually in the right place with God.  Through Jesus, and by our accepting His sacrificial death on the cross, we become a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21), and that means we are right with God. 

Romans 5:1 says that we have been justified, made right with God, by faith in Jesus Christ.  We are no longer separated from God by sin, we are no longer enemies of God, but we are a part of His family, all because of Jesus, and that is a place of peace.  Yet so many Christians are still not certain about their standing with God, they are not at peace, and they are still trying to do things that they think will put them in the right place with God.  But through Jesus, we are in the right place, our position with God is secure, and we can be at peace. 

Leading The Way, Or Just Pointing?

"The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you."
Philippians 4:9 (NKJV)

Once when I was in the Frankfurt airport, traveling to the USA, a woman behind me in the passport line asked about what we needed to do there, and where the security lines were.  As I talked to her, I found out that this was her first time flying back to the USA from Germany, and she was not sure what to do.  So, I explained some things, and then I encouraged her to just follow me through the airport to the gate where the flight that we were both going to take was.  Since I already knew the way, it was easy for me to help her, and she was very thankful.

To give someone directions, you could write something down, point out the direction they need to go, or explain what they should do and lead them to where they needed to go.  Any of these methods can be successful, but the most successful way would be to not only tell them or show them where they need to go, but to actually lead them there.  This is exactly how we need to do things as we follow Jesus and help others along the way.  We not only need to tell them how to follow Jesus, and "point" the way, but we should also then lead and guide them along the way. 

The Apostle Paul wrote several letters that are a part of the New Testament, and we can see from the Book of Acts that Paul was an effective speaker.  Paul wrote and taught about what Jesus did for us and how we can have a living relationship with God.  But Paul was also a leader and an example to others.  He told the Philippians to do what they had learned, received, heard, and saw from him.  We need to be like Paul, and rather than just telling others what to do, or pointing them in the right direction, we need to be a living example of someone who follows Jesus, and help lead others in the way they should go.

Billboard Christianity?

"For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God,"
Acts 20:27 (NKJV)

Billboards are usually advertisements and sometimes announcements of some kind.  But billboards are not a textbook, a complete set of instructions on how to do something, or an in-depth study of any material.  Billboards are meant to convey a simple, brief message.  If all you knew about a product or thing was what you saw on a billboard, your knowledge of that thing would be very limited, and you might even misunderstand something about that product or what is being shown you, because you only see a very small part of what is being represented by the message on the billboard.

People sometimes have problems because of their limited understanding of a thing.  If you only know a little bit about a topic, the little bit that you do know may give you a wrong impression about the entire scope of the topic.  This is also very true concerning biblical truth.  Many people take things out of context, they only have a limited understanding of a Bible topic, or they might even have a misunderstanding of something in the Bible, because they have never taken the time to really study everything God's Word has to say about that subject. 

In Acts 20:27, Paul told the leaders of the church in Ephesus that he had declared the whole counsel of God to them.  Everywhere Paul went, he talked about the plan of God, what Jesus has done for us, and how we need to live a life that pleases God.  Paul was careful to tell the people the "whole counsel of God," so that people would be well-developed, mature believers.  We too need to be sure that we are not just focusing on our favorite topic or taking things out of their context, but we need to have a good understanding of all that God has said, to fulfill the will of God in our lives, and also to help others.

Temporary Relief Or A Permanent Solution?

"They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, Saying, 'Peace, peace!' When there is no peace."
Jeremiah 6:14 (NKJV)

Unfortunately, more than one of my teeth has needed some dental work.  And, unfortunately, more than once this dental work required several trips to the dentist.  For example, when I had a crown put on a tooth, the dentist first put on a temporary crown until the permanent crown could be made.  The temporary crown was not permanent, it was not meant to last forever.  But what if I never went back to the dentist for the permanent crown?  Then I would have had a problem, because the temporary crown would eventually wear out and I would still have a problem with the tooth.

The word temporary refers to something that will only last for a limited period of time, so a temporary solution is not a permanent one.  Sometimes, for various reasons, someone will get temporary relief for a problem they have without really solving the problem.  And in the same way, there are some Christians who are only getting temporary solutions to their problems, and they are not really making any permanent changes to solve their problem.  God has answers for us that are not just temporary, but He will give us solutions to our situations that will be permanent, life-long answers. 

In Jeremiah 6:14, we read about people who claimed to be prophets and have God's answer to a problem, but what they said did not help the situation, it was not God's answer.  Some Christians look for a new teaching, some special minister, or a big meeting to help them, but they only get temporary relief from their problem.  Through His Word, and by the leading of the Holy Spirit, God will give us real, permanent solutions to our problem.  God wants to give us more than temporary relief in an uncomfortable situation, He has life changing solutions to help us in our time of need.

Being An Influencer

"Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem.  His mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba.
Joash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest.
2 Chronicles 24:1-2 (NKJV)

There are people today who are known as influencers, and there are many more people that would like to become influencers.  Influencers are often social media personalities who have a large following of people that will buy or do things because of the influencer.  There can be various reasons that someone becomes an influencer, and often the reason is that an influencer can generate a lot of money and popularity from their influence.  It is good if someone has a positive influence on someone else, but if a person has the wrong influence on others, it would certainly be a bad thing.

In 2 Chronicles 24, we read about King Joash and how the priest Jehoiada was a positive influence on the king.  But, when that priest died, there were other people who were a bad influence on the king.  This shows how important it is to have the right influence in life and how without the right influence some people can go astray.  There are many more stories like this in the Bible that show us the influence that one person can have on another, and there are many ways we can all be a positive influence on other people today.  

Whether we realize it or not, we are all having an influence on others, and that can be positive or negative.  Of course, we want to have a positive, godly influence on other people, but is that always the case?  Are we building people up, or tearing people down?  Are we making people better with our influence, or making them worse?  We should all be a positive influence on those around us, and it starts with our having a growing relationship with God, so that we have something to positively influence others with.  We can all be an influencer today in someone's life, using what God has given us.

Reaping And Sowing?

"But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully."
2 Corinthians 9:6 (NKJV)

The principle of sowing and reaping, giving and receiving, works in every area of life.  When we do one thing, it usually results in something else happening.  But no one can just expect to receive a result of something when they have done nothing to set this principle in motion.  What we do will have some type of result, but we cannot expect to have some result if we have not performed any action.  If we want to reap a crop of corn, we have to plant corn, if we want to receive interest on an investment, we have to first make the investment.

Most Christians have heard about the principle of sowing and reaping, the idea of giving and receiving.  And usually when we hear about this in a Christian context, it is in the area of finances.  But that is just a part of how this principle works, and we should not limit our understanding of this to just monetary or financial situations.  For example, if we want to have people help us, it would be good to first look for ways to help others, if we are looking for better relationships, we need to put our best into the relationships that we already have. 

People often try to benefit from something without having previously done anything.  But the principle is that if we give, we receive, if we sow and plant, we will reap; it does not work the other way around.  Our focus should not be on just receiving, our focus should be on doing what we know God wants us to do, from His Word, as a part of His plan for our life, and by the leading of the Holy Spirit.  If we look for ways to give and invest, in every area of life, instead of just looking for ways to get and receive, we will gain and reap wonderful results.

Are You Using The Instructions?

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV)

At one time or another, just about everyone has bought something that required some assembly.  Whether it was a piece of furniture, a toy, or even a smart phone or computer that did not need assembly, these things all come with some type of instructions.  Although some people ignore the instructions and they try to put something together in a way that makes sense to them, or they just try to do what they think is best, instructions are given to us for a reason, and using the instructions is going to be better overall than not using them.

The problem with instructions is that sometimes they are a bit complicated, which is a problem in itself, but if the instructions are written in a simple and clear manner, there is no reason to not follow the instructions.  But what if we think we are so smart and have such great life experience that we never need any kind of instructions?  That is sad, and it happens too often.  People sometimes wonder why they struggle and face problems in their life, and one of the reasons could be that they are ignoring God's instruction manual. 

God has given us His Word, His instructions to live the life He has planned for us, and God has also given us the Holy Spirit to help us follow the directions that God has given.  But what if we don't follow those instructions?  If we ignore God's directions and wisdom, it can lead to some big problems.  In the same way that natural instructions are given to help us assemble and use a product, God has given us His Word to help us put our life together and operate successfully in this world.  We all need to use our God given instructions.

What Did God Say To YOU?

"This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God.  And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."
Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays you?"
Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, "But Lord, what about this man?"
Jesus said to him, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?   You follow Me."
John 21:19-22 (NKJV)

Imagine being at your place of employment and having your boss give you some work to do.  Then, instead of just going to do the work you were given, you start questioning your boss about the work that other people have been assigned to.  Or imagine someone on a sports team not playing their position but constantly going over to other players to check on what they are doing.  In either situation there will be a problem because someone is overly concerned about what another person is doing and they are ignoring their own work.

A problem that often happens is our comparing what we are doing and what we have to what other people are doing and what they have.  Too often people get very interested in what someone else is doing, rather than just paying attention to what they should be doing.  The more a person gets involved in the lives and work of other people, the less they are focusing on their own life and work.  The result of this can be that both people are doing less than they should be doing, and this will lead to problems.

In John 21, Jesus talks to Peter, telling Peter to follow Him.  But rather than just doing what Jesus told him to do, Peter asks about what John should do.  What Jesus told Peter should have been enough.  But like many people today, instead of just doing what Jesus said, Peter wondered about what someone else would be doing.  We need to focus on the plan and purpose God has for us, what God has spoken to us through His Word and by the direction of the Holy Spirit, and do that.  The question is not about what God has said or done with others, but what did God say to YOU?

Did You Earn Your Place?

"who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,
2 Timothy 1:9 (NKJV)

Having experience with something is often a requirement for employment.  When applying for a job, a person will usually be asked about their education, past experience, and any kind of training that they had which would qualify them for the work.  Getting a job that requires previous experience can be difficult if you are never able to do the work and get the actual experience.  But, even if you do not have the experience, education, or training necessary for the job, you might still be hired if someone knows you and can explain to the potential employer why you would be a good person to fill the position.

One thing that every believer needs to understand is that God has a plan and purpose for their life.  We are the Body of Christ, and we are each a part in the Body.  Just like our natural body does not have any unnecessary parts, the Body of Christ does not have any members in it that are not essential for the Body of Christ to do what God wants to do.  But, while many believers recognize that God has a plan for their life, some of these same people are still thinking that for some reason they are not qualified to do what God has called them to do. 

As Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:9, God has saved us and called us, He has a plan for our life.  God's calling and purpose for our life is not based on something that we have done, our educational background, past experiences, or any kind of training we have had.  While it is certainly true that God can and will use those things, we need to understand that it is by the grace of God that we have each been called by God to do something for Him.  We may have done many great things in the past, but God's plan for our life is based on His grace, not our works.

High Priority, Or Not So Important?

"Then He said to another, "Follow Me."  But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father".
Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God."
And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house."
But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
Luke 9:59-62 (NKJV)

People talk about having "me time," time to do things that they want to do.  There is a principle in that statement that is valid, but there can also be a problem with this idea.  Often people want some time to themselves because they have been busy, and they are looking for a break from their hectic schedule.  In reality, the problem is often not that we do not have enough time for ourselves, or other things we might need to do, the problem is how we are using the time that we have.

The world is a very busy place.  It seems like people have almost every moment of every day filled with some kind of activity, like taking care of daily needs, work, or just trying to "relax."  Our real issue is how we spend our time.  We all have the same amount of time, 24 hours a day, every day.  But it is how we are using our time that is causing us trouble.  If we take account of how we are using our time now, it is very likely that there are some things we are spending time on that are not so important, and there are things that should be priorities that we are not taking care of.

Our highest priority has to be our relationship with God, spending time with Him through His Word and prayer, and following the path and plan God has for our life.  We see an example of this in Luke 9.  Jesus called some people to follow Him, but rather than make the plan and calling of God in their life the highest priority, they wanted to do something else first, and this can happen to us too.  If we put our relationship with God and His plans first, rather than spending our time on things that are not so vital, we will find that we have the time to do what is best, and also have the time for the things we need and want to do.

Do You Already Have What You Are Looking For?

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV)

Have you ever seen someone looking for their glasses, and all the while their glasses are on their head?  That person may have been distracted for a moment, and so they began looking for something that they actually have.  In the same way, if we are looking for something we already have, because we do not know what we do have, we can waste a lot of time and energy trying to find what is already ours.  For example, if we thought we had lost our glasses we might go and buy a new pair of glasses, even though we already have what we need.

Not knowing what we have, naturally or spiritually, is not a good thing.  If we do not know what we have, we might think we need to get something that is already ours, or we might think that we have to do something, when nothing is actually required from us.  In the same way, not understanding something we have, or the value of it, is just as bad.  For example, if you have something that is very valuable, but you do not realize its true value, naturally or spiritually, it would be as bad as if you did not have that thing in the first place. 

As Christians, we need to know what belongs to us as a part of God's family, and we learn about this through God's Word.  Although we do need to grow and develop spiritually, we do not have to go and find something that we are still somehow lacking to do so.  As Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, God's Word has been given to us to help us and show us what we have in Christ, what we need to believe, and what we need to do.  If we do not know about and take advantage of what God has provided for us and what belongs to us, then we might spend our time trying to find something that we already have.

Too Much Trivia?

"Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.
2 Timothy 2:14-16 (NKJV)

Trivia can be defined as facts about something, or someone, that are not well known and usually not very important.  For example, in my own life, it is a fact that so far, I have traveled with 19 different airlines.  That is something that most people do not know about me, but it is not really very important.  In your own life, when was the last time you mentioned something to someone that was a little known and possibly unimportant fact about yourself?  We usually only focus on what is relevant and really important, and that is the way it should be.

Technology is wonderful, but what we get through technology is not always so wonderful.  Today, there are many ways for us to hear all kinds of teaching and preaching, which is generally good, but unfortunately much of what is available to us is not very good.  Anyone can create a video of some kind and post it for all the world to see, and anyone can write something that is available all over the Internet, but that does not mean that it is good and worth listening to.  In fact, much of what is available is not really spiritually beneficial, and it is often more trivial than helpful.

In the letters to Timothy and Titus, Paul warned them both about getting involved in questionable teachings, obviously wrong doctrine, and trivial things that simply do not matter.  Paul's encouragement for Timothy and Titus also applies to us.  We do not need to become experts at doctrinal trivia, but we should focus on clear, biblical truth that really matters.  Sound teaching from God's Word is something that will build us up spiritually rather than just entertain us mentally.  We need to focus on major Bible truths, and not minor or questionable issues. 

A New, And Better, Year

"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.  For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."
Joshua 1:8 (NKJV)

With every New Year, people have a great deal of positive expectations, or at least hope, that things will somehow improve in the New Year.  But rather than just passively hoping for something good to happen, or for things to somehow just work out, we need to be proactive and do the things we know we should be doing, and improve in those areas.  We need to see what we have done successfully in the past, understand why, and then continue doing those things, while making any necessary adjustments to be successful in the coming year.

Everyone can be more successful this next year than they were last year.  We can take "new" steps in the New Year by building on what we have been doing with God, and growing in that.  We can spend time in God's Word every day, pray more, walk in love at a higher level, as well as being more generous with our time, ability, and finances.  We do not have to find some "new" and different thing to do, but we can continue to increase in what we have already succeeded in, and add to that any other things that we might have left undone in the past.

When Joshua took over the leadership of Israel from Moses, it was a new thing for him, and in Joshua 1:8, God told Joshua how to succeed.  God told Joshua to stay focused on what the Word says, to do what the Word says, and say what the Word says.  God did not give Joshua some completely different plan, but God told Joshua to continue doing what he already knew, and to keep doing those things.  We too need to stay in God's Word, doing and saying what it says, and allow the Holy Spirit to help us fulfill God's plan for our lives.  With God, our future is bright, and that is how our New Year should be!