by Steve Ferber
WHAT!!! Don’t you mean wherever I go there the Lord is? Well that is true, but it is not what I want to talk about.
Years ago a country artist released a song about his walk in life and that no matter where he went, there he was. Things would not be going too well where he was hanging out at so he would go to a different bar, find a new set of friends or even move to a different town. He was always looking for where he would “fit in”. It seemed that when he started hanging out someplace different that everything was good for a while, but over time things would change to where it was not so good any more. Why couldn’t people just be honest about who they were in the beginning instead of putting on a front? It sure would save a lot of grief in the long run. Well, it was time to move on… again!
He did finally figure it out; it wasn’t about the people or the circumstances he was in, it was about him. His continuing problems were due to his heart condition, not others. We all have done this; some of us are even doing it right now. So, how do we get out of this? Many do it by positive thinking and discipline, getting a lot of their information from self help sources.
This is good as long as it is Christian based. There are many Christian based programs that help you to allow God to bring healing and restoration into your life, participate in one if you need to; but remember, it is not just the teaching that will set you free, it is the Lord.
Jn 8:3, 32 If you hold into my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. Christ also taught that if we are to gain our lives that we must first lose it to Him (Matt 10: 38, 39). We Christians often talk about salvation, asking Jesus into our hearts. This is the basis of our faith, the beginning of our relationship with Jesus Christ and ultimately, God the Father. Phil 12: 2b, 13 continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
This does not mean that we have to be afraid of God’s judgment! Lk 1: 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. If we are found to be in Christ Jesus (saved), then our sins are forgiven and we need not be fearful of Gods judgment. The process of sanctification is just submitting to his lordship. That is, I live according to His will and purposes, not my own. Christ talked of picking up your cross, dying to yourself daily and following after Him. It is not about us! Matt 15: 7-9 you hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.”
Let us not be counted among that group of people! If you are not saved, accept Jesus Christ as Lord of your life and submit to his teachings. Be filled with the Holy Spirit, whom God sent to dwell within you to be a helper (Acts 2:38). Continue in achieving the fullness of Christ, the work of sanctification, by submitting to the changes he has brought into your life.
Ph 2:1-11 talks of imitating Christ’s humility. If we are to be able to submit to His lordship, we must then be taking on the full character of Christ. Phil 2: 2-4 then make my joy complete by being like minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
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