Under Construction

"Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.  Amen."
Hebrews 13:20-21 (NKJV)

Right now, there are two building projects going on close to where I live in Germany.  Sometimes, when I go by these places and I look at what they are doing at the construction site, I have some idea what is happening, and a basic idea of what the end result will be.  But there are other times that I look at what is happening, and I have no idea what is going on.  However, I am confident that there are building plans somewhere that the workers are following and the end result of the construction will be exactly what it was designed to be.

Often, when we are looking at some type of construction project, we do not always understand exactly what is happening, or how what is currently being done will bring the right end result.  This is also how things work in our own spiritual growth process; God is working on us, and other people, in ways we do not always recognize or understand, but God has a plan.  We all need to grow and develop spiritually, and God is the One who is working on us and in us, even when we do not see or understand what is happening.

God is working in us, developing and maturing us to help us succeed in life and to be equipped to do the things He has planned for us to do.  We don't always see or understand what God is doing, but as Hebrews 13:21 says, God is working to develop and mature us, and He is doing things in our life that are well pleasing in His sight.  We may not recognize exactly what is happening while we are under construction, but if we allow God to work in us, the end result will be exactly as He has planned, and even better than we might expect. 

Who Directs Your Steps?

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delights in his way."
Psalm 37:23 (NKJV)

Have you ever planned to go somewhere, maybe even a place you have been before, but when you think you should be at your destination, you realize that your directions were wrong and you are not where you wanted to be?  You may have had a good idea about where you needed to go, and even a good plan on how to get there, but your directions were based more on what you thought was right than actual, accurate information.  In a situation like this, if we do not check our directions, we can think we are going to the right place, but we will never get there.

We are all going somewhere in our life.  But the question is, what direction are we going and what is setting the course for our life?  There are many reasons people do things, and if we are doing things for the wrong reasons, or even if we have the right reasons but we are going the wrong way, we will end up with problems.  Sometimes Christians are looking for some "new and exciting" doctrine or a "special" meeting to make a difference in their life, but they are looking in the wrong place for what they need.  They are directing their own steps and not allowing God to guide them through His Word and the Holy Spirit.  

Psalm 37:23 talks about God directing our steps, but is it God who is really directing our steps?  Just desiring to go the right direction in life and do the right thing is not enough, we have to be sure that the course we are following is actually going to lead us to where we need to be, and we are not just on a nice path that really leads to nowhere.  If we are the one who is setting our own course in life, then we are not following God's direction and we will not end up where we should be, or where God wants us to be.  We need to allow God to direct our steps. 

If You Cease Listening, You Will Stray

"Cease listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge."
Proverbs 19:27 (NKJV)

Starting something is important, but continuing with that thing is even more important.  Whether you are learning a new skill, a different language, or starting an exercise routine, getting yourself started is usually easier than continuing to do that thing.  This is the reason many people do not keep some New Year's resolution or follow through with a good idea or desire that they have.  Once we begin doing something, we must find a way to keep ourselves involved in that thing, because if we do not, we will end up far away from our original intent, and whatever gains we might have made will be lost.

Hebrews 2:1 talks about paying attention to what we have heard so that we do not drift away.  Drifting away from something can easily happen if we do not keep the thing that could drift connected to something else.  We have to pay attention to what we have heard from God in His Word and by the Holy Spirit so that we do not drift away from those things.  One way we can prevent drifting away from what is right is to continually listen to the instruction we receive through God's Word so that we keep ourselves anchored to the truth.  

Proverbs 19:27 warns us about the dangers of not continuing to hear instruction and then straying from the words of knowledge.  If we continue to hear instruction, we will not stray from "the words of knowledge," but if we stop listening, it is easy to stray off the path of the truth and get into error.  We need to be in a continual process of reading and studying the Word of God for ourselves, as well as hearing good Bible based teaching that will remind us of, and add to, the godly instruction that we already have.  If we do not keep listening to the truth, we will stray, and if we stray, we can drift away.

What's In The Well?

"The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked."
Proverbs 10:11 (NKJV)

Most people today only need to turn on a faucet to get some water.  But in the past, most people had to go to a well to get the water they needed.  When someone digs a well, their goal is to get some water, not just dig a hole in the ground.  It would be strange for someone to say they were digging a well, but when they finished, all you could get from the well was dirt.  Or it could be that for some reason a well might become contaminated, and while there would still be water in the well, the water drawn from the well would not be drinkable and the well would be worthless.

One topic that we see in the Bible, and especially in the Book of Proverbs is the importance of the words that we speak.  The next time you read the Book of Proverbs, pay attention to what is said about our words, our mouth, and our tongue.  These are all intending to show us the value of our words and how important it is for us to say the right kinds of words.  The words we speak can help or hurt people, our words can encourage or discourage people, and our words can lift people up or put people down.  We need to speak the right kind of words.  

Proverbs 10:11 says that the mouth of the righteous is a well of life.  But is it just because someone is righteous, because someone is a Christian that their words are automatically positive and helpful, or is it more about the content of what is being said?  As Jesus said in Matthew 12:34, it is from the abundance of what is in our heart that we will speak.  This means we must fill ourselves with good things, especially with God's Word, to be sure that what is in our well, what comes out of our mouth, will be a blessing and help to others.  What is in the well of our heart that is then coming out of our mouth?

Walking In Love - The Best Is Yet To Come

"bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."
1 Corinthians 13:7 (NKJV)

Some people have a negative view of the future, while some people are more optimistic about the future, and this can be the same with how we view others.  We can see and expect the worst in people, or instead of just thinking everyone is crazy, we can look for the best in people and have a positive view of others.  While this does not mean that we just blindly trust everyone and anyone, we do not have to automatically believe the worst about others and have a negative view of life, but instead we can look for the best, and hope for the best in people and the situations we deal with.

If we meet someone for the first time, should we automatically distrust them and expect that they will create problems for us, or should we be open to the possibility of them being a good person who will be a positive influence in our lives.  Walking in love towards someone does not mean we just accept whatever they do, but it does mean that we should be able to bear and endure whatever is going on, and we should believe and hope for the best in that person.  While we may look for the best in our friends and close relationships, that attitude should be one we have towards everyone. 

If we really care about someone, we are quick to forgive their mistakes and we expect them to do better the next time.  But should that attitude only be limited to people we love and already know?  In 1 Corinthians 13:5, it says that love "bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things".  If we are always looking for the worst in others, never expecting that they will amount to anything, then we are not walking in love. God believes the best about us and expects the best for us all the time; we too should believe the best of others, and of ourselves, expecting the best is yet to come.   

Do You Only Walk When The Sun Is Shining?

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."
Galatians 6:9 (NKJV)

On most days, I will go for a walk, and depending on the weather, there might be many other people out walking, or only a few.  A while ago, it was unseasonably warm and sunny, and there was a noticeably larger number of people out walking.  Usually, I see the same people when I am walking, but on this day, I did not recognize most of the people I saw.  It was likely that some of them were only walking because of the nice weather.  Walking is a good form of exercise, but while it is a good thing to do, most people will only do it when the conditions are most favorable.

Some people have the idea that things in life, including following Jesus, should be fun, and easy all the time.  While that sounds nice, we know that it is not reality, because there will always be challenges in life.  Doing the right thing, when it is easy and there is immediate gratification, is what people want, but not everyone wants to put in the time and effort to do what is right when the reward is somewhere down the road.  We all like to do things that have less effort and more reward, but we all know that is not always the way things are.  

Galatians 6:9 tells us that we should keep on doing what is right, and not get weary when doing it, because there is a reward.  It is easy to walk in the sunshine and do what is right when the conditions are favorable.  But we need to keep on walking with God, even when it seems like the sun is not shining.  If we are persistent in doing what is right, we will move from the challenging and seemingly darker place to the victorious bright place where we want to be.  Real success comes when we are willing to do what is right, and then doing it, no matter what the conditions are. 

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.