Take a good look at yourself!

James 1.22-24

"Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like." (MSG)

Jesus don't give us suggestions, He gives us commands! It's up to us if we either want to obey Him or not, or just treat his instructions as mere suggestions, only obeying if it does not cost to much.

 

Whatever He has told us to do, it's never a better way than obeying His call. He has called us all to go out and share the good news, the gospel, and pray for our neighbours to get reconciled with God. Let us take Him on his word. 

"But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do." (v. 25) (NIV)

When we obey him, we become more like Jesus, and we become more the way God planned for us to be. When we live in fellowship with God, and learn to trust Him more, and also trust Him enough to obey Him, whatever he wants of us, it produces joy in our lives, because that is what we are called to do. Then you will then learn more of, whom God is, and then you get to know yourself in a deeper way. Because God's ways are much greater and higher than our ways, and He knew us before we even was born.

Don't get weary in doing what is good!

2 Thessalonians 3.13

"As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good" (NIV)

Sometimes it seems like no one cares if we want to accept a life behavior we know in our hearts is not right. And since nobody tells us that this is not right, we keep on doing it. But things do not have to be like this.

We can all come (back) to Jesus, and repent from a life that is not pleasing to Him. He is graceful, and will not cast away a repented sinner.

This is something we not have to do just one time in our lives. There is a constant battle for our lives to not set the highest standard. And we can come up with a millions of reason why it's not so bad, but it is still wrong. If we know in our hearts it's not a good thing to do, walk miles away from it, don't let it come near your life.

When we do all this, we have a good conscience, and have peace at heart. It's also then much easier to not loose perspective, but keep on doing things that is pleasing to God.

Who is your master?

Matthew 6.24

"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." (NIV)

It is so many things that wants to allure us to believe that, happiness can be bought by money. "If I only had this, I would be satisfied". But the fact that Jesus points out this so clearly; "you will be devoted to the one and despise the other", makes it clear you can not please God, if you have this mentality.

It is so easy to loose perspective in life. What is of importance? Jesus gives us a new way of looking at the issue of money when he says:

"Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven" (verse 20)

Why speak of heaven, when money will not be an issue in heaven anyway? We can live on this earth, and pay our taxes, our bills, and also wish for new stuff, but our hearts should not let these things take dominion in our lives. Our hearts should rather be directed upwards, believing He will give us everything we need, because He is our Provider. We should also know, that everything belongs to Him, including our self. And everything that we have, has been given to us by Him, meaning He can also take it from us.

It's still important to live for something greater than our selves.  If we spend all our money on our selves, it can be because our lives is too much involved around our selves. To give, breaks the habit off a self centred behaviour. And there we have Jesus as our primary example on the cross, when He gave his whole life. It shows the ultimate way of living, not for Him self, but for others. 

Let ut all follow in footsteps of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!

Take a pause and look up!

Matthew 6.26

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”. (NIV)

It is so easy to be caught up with daily activities and worries. But our heavenly Father asks us to more and more trust Him to fill all of our needs. Look at the birds! It's amazing how they get fed every day! And we are a lot more valuable compared to them, in the eyes of our heavenly Father.

Jehovah sees - Jehovah knows

Genesis 22.14

"And Abraham gave that place the name Yahweh-yireh: as it is said to this day, In the mountain the Lord is seen."

Sometimes it can be easy to worry and be a bit selfish. Maybe thoughts of condemnation knocks on the door. It can also easy to fall down in self-pity. Then we have to remember that we have someone that has been in bigger trouble than us. He also does not only see our circumstance, but he also is the way out of it. If we look up to our creator God and his son Jesus, he will bring a way for us. He is the Alpha & Omega. He can make a season stop, and create a new season in our lifes. So don't hold on to the past, but let it go, and continue together with Jesus. Invite Him in your life. He is only a prayer away.

 

He sees us. He hears us. He knows what we think even before we do. Let us come before him, and let Him speak to our hearts.