Have you thanked Him?
Have you praised Him?
Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?
Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?
1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)
1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.
Galatians 5:19-21 (MSG)
…what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time…?
(A life marked by): repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.
Sorry to come at you a little “tough” or dare I say preachy this morning. Not my intent. This little passage from Galatians today is here to inspire us to set our priorities and pursuits for this week in a way that avoids selfishness and its proverbial fruit.
Nothing in that little passage above sounds appealing does it?
Yesterday Pastor Mark from AHOP in Xenia prior to diving back into his series on Spiritual warfare, alluded to the wonderful benefits of a life in pursuit of what GOD wants. Reiterating again the glorious blessings that wait for those who chose to be obedient, who embrace the relationship Jesus offers and who choose to live a godly life.
It is true. A blessed life is available to all.
I believe Mark even alluded that when we avoid the selfish and embrace the godly, our blessings will not just suffice, they will overflow. When Mark shared that sentiment, my mind immediately was reminded of this passage…
Romans 5:5 (MSG)
…we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!
Yet far too many times we settle for the selfish; pursue our interests and desires without even pausing to consult the Holy Spirit as to where we should go, what we should do or how we should handle the day in front of us. Our focus shifts inward rather than upward. And GOD has just warned and enlightened us as to where that type of thinking and living leads. Just reread that little opener from Galatians 5:19-21. That can’t be more a more powerful warning.
A life focused inwardly is an empty one. Yet a life spent pursuing and obeying GOD produces so much blessing it can’t be contained!
Ezra Taft Benson says it this way:
“When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the Lord will govern the claims for our affection, the demands on our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities.”
Simply put. Obedience and selfless service offers life, blessing and clarity. An inward focused life offers only emptiness and confusion.
So the question is pretty simple this morning. What has your focus and energy today?
Inwardly focused selfish pursuits?
Or outwardly serving GODLY goals?
If you are still not quite sure which way to go, then have a look…
Galatians 5:22-23
...what happens when we live God’s way?
He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
I think the choice is pretty clear...
Don't you?
Have a blessed day today…
I love you all!
Freedom Church
Pastor GDelaney
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