ACTIONS AND CONSEQUENCE

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.

“Actions always result in consequences.”

“Trust the process”

“Don’t mess with the recipe.”

“Proper planning prevents poor performance.”

“At the HEALING PLACE on time is late and early is on time.”

All of these little “truisms” were uttered over the course of a great day this past Wednesday with our new friends and consultative team from THE HEALING PLACE in Louisville Ky. http://www.thehealingplace.org/

Jay Davis, their Chairman, was the one to utter most of them and it was clear that wasn’t the first time he had done so.  Jay has over 20 years in the addiction recovery business, over 30 in his personal sobriety journey, so it was clear, these truisms were important to “his process” and the process exercised with the nearly 500 men and women seeking recovery and shelter across the multiple Louisville campuses and facilities.

Yet it was the first one “actions always result in consequences” that truly is the straw that stirs the drink when it comes to the recovery process at THE HEALING PLACE.  

In that context, the men and women are reminded that no action is “consequence free”.  Poor actions often equate into less than favorable consequence.  For example, choose to bring illegal substances onto the recovery floor results in being “ineligible for on-going services”.  (Translated – back on the street).  At the same time, “GOOD ACTIONS” foster positive consequence.  Embracing the steps leads to sobriety.  Trusting the process leads to perks and passes to see a loved one at home.

Now I know this isn’t some new profound or "revelatory" concept.  I understand there is nothing new here.  

But I do think it is important from time to time to be reminded that life is a series of actions followed by consequence and that GOD embraces that little truism as well.

Galatians 5:19-21(MSG)

It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: 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.

This isn’t the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God’s kingdom.

 

But 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.

So whether it is Jay providing the reminder or the Apostle Paul, the message is still the same.  Actions do indeed result in consequence.

It is very simple and crystal clear.

GOOD ACTIONS = good consequence.

BAD or SELFISH ACTIONS = bad consequences.

What is your plan of "action" for today?

 

I love you all.

HAVE A BLESSED WEEKEND!

Freedom Church

 

Pastor GDelaney