It's All About Character

Bible Reading: Galatians 5:19-23

When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. - Galatians 5:22-23.

Imagine this: You're a girl. (Okay, if you're a guy that's tough to wrap your brain around, but try.) You've been picked as a contestant on the hit game show Meet Your Perfect Match. Your job is to pick your perfect marriage partner from three goofy guys sharing the stage with you. By asking and answering several questions, you discover all sorts of significant stuff you have in common. So tell which characteris­tic makes your guy a great choice for you to marry for life:

(a) You both carry Scooby Doo lunch boxes.

(b) You each think the other is really cute.

(c) You both are exceedingly popular.

(d) You both spend spring break snorkeling with stingrays.

(e) You both are growing Christians who show the character of Christ.

Hmmm . . . not too tough.

But here's something really big to think about. If the goal of going out is to find a best friend with whom to spend the rest of your life, then you aren't looking for how popular someone is, how cute she is, what toys he owns, or the opinions of friends What makes a winner is the stuff on the inside. Galatians 5:22-23 lists the huge char­acter qualities you need in any good friend—especially your best friend for life.

Actually, that last choice in the list above is the first question to ask about some­one you like or want to go out with—or someday get hitched to. When you know someone you like is a committed Christian, then you get to start figuring out if you have similar goals and personality as well as a desire to get along-all the things that can help you decide whether God means for you to spend your lives together. (By the way, God won't make you marry someone you can't stand to look at!)

Winning a bride or groom on a bizarre TV game show is not likely God's best plan for you. The person you marry will be someone you choose. If you date losers-like people who fail the Galatians 5:22-23 test-you greatly increase your odds of marrying a loser. But if you pick winners, it's likely you will marry a winner.

TALK: Would your parents ever ship you to Hollywood to be a contestant on Meet Your Perfect Match? How come? Why do you need to keep in mind the standards in Galatians 5 right now?

Prayer: Our Meriful loving Father God, thank you that in your perfect timing you will bring special people into our life—guys or girls that meet your standards. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, In Jesus Loving Name I Pray, Amen."

More About to Know and Not to Do

"Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does." - James 1:23-25 (NIV).

Here's a riddle I recently read: "Five frogs sat on a log. Four decided to jump off. How many frogs left on the log?"

There were two brothers in Georgia during the 1950s. One decided that, in opposition to the dominant culture of the day, he was going to participate in the formation of a desegregated community. The other worked as an attorney for a prominent law firm. Both were Christians and attended church regularly. As the community formed and social pressure forced the community into court proceedings, the one brother asked his attorney brother to help them with the legal work. The brother refused, saying that he could lose his job. He pressured his brother to help with a reminder that he was a Christian. The lawyer responded, "I will follow Jesus to his cross, but it is his cross. I have no need to be crucified." To this his brother replied, "Then you are an admirer of Jesus, but not his disciple."

What was your answer to the riddle above? Was it one, two, three, or four? According to the person who posed the question the answer is five. "How come?" you ask. It's because there is a world of difference between deciding and doing.

As a Buddhist monk once said, "To know and not to do is not yet to know." To translate this into our Christian terminology I would put it this way: "To believe and not to act is not yet to believe for I only truly believe that which motivates me to action."

Prayer:"Our Merciful Loving Father in Heaven, in appreciation for all you have done for me, please help me to be a faithful follower and disciple of Jesus, and not just an admirer or a hearer of your Word. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, In Jesus Loving Name I Pray, Amen."

The Wise Man's Vineyard

Bible reading: John 5:1-9, 16-17
.
"So the Jewish leaders began harassing Jesus for breaking the Sabbath rules. But Jesus replied, `My Father never stops working, so why should I?'" - (John5:16-17, NLT).
.

When the religious people of Jesus' day started harassing him because he and his followers didn't obey all their Sabbath rules, Jesus said, "My Father never stops working, so why should I?". - (John 5:17).

Now, maybe you've never thought about it, but most people don't think of God working.­They picture him, oh, floating on a cloud somewhere high up in the sky.Or they imagine him sitting on a throne in a great celestial palace, snapping his fingers whenever he wants something. Or leisurely looking down on earth from heaven like city dwellers who lean on their upper-story window sills and watch the cars and buses go by on the street below. After all, why would God work? He doesn't have to; he's got all kinds of angels
to do whatever needs to be done. He could go on permanent vacation. He could snap his fingers, create his own island paradise in the Caribbean and do nothing but eat kiwi fruit and sip lemonade for the rest of his life (which, because he's eternal, is a really long time!).

But Jesus said that God works.­In fact, he said, "My Father never stops working." God is always on duty! He's always "on the job." He never even sleeps (Psalm 121:3-4).

God works because it's part of his nature. He is a God of action. There's not a lazy bone in his body (OK, so he doesn't have a physical body, but you get the idea). And because God is a God of action, a God who works, work is right; honest, hard work is a good thing. It doesn't matter if it's building skyscrapers, washing cars, directing traffic, inventing computer software, pumping gas, governing a nation, acting in movies, or flipping hamburgers. . . .
God approves of work, because he works, too.

Reflect: Did any of the pictures of God mentioned above (floating on a cloud, sitting on a throne, etc.) express how you have imagined God in the past? Has your picture of God changed after reading today's devotion? Why or why not? What kind of work do you think pleases God? 

Prayer:"Almighty and Loving Father, thank you for always being `on the job.' Thank you for always being ready to hear and answer my prayers. Thank you for always being `on duty' to help me. Please help me to do my work in a way that pleases you." Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, In Jesus Loving Name I Pray, Amen."

Hope For Every Man

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4 (NKJV)

I don't want to be God - I want to be used by God.  I don't want to orchestrate anyone's life, including my own - I just want to be willing to be moved in the perfect direction by God's gentle hand, and to be used in the greatest way, and for the greatest benefit of the kingdom.

Such was my heart today after speaking via email with a friend of mine on behalf of the need of another brother in the Lord.  My heart hurts when I see another Christian hurting, and yet I know that it is suppose to be that way.

And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 1 Corinthians 12:26 (NKJV)

We all face various trials and tribulations, and we need to know that these trials are part of the shaping process that is required to mold us into the image of our Lord and Savior, Jesus.  Still, it is hard for us to see others in such need, and feel as if we don't have anything to offer - at least in tangible assets.  

I think that this is a part of God's master plan though - a plan that was well thought out before any of us was ever born.  God knew the exact time that there would be needs in the lives of those around us, and He knew that we would be strapped for resources - the resources with which we would normally help them.  And yet we can still feel the tug of our heart telling us to do something.  For some, it is tests for us to give when we don't see how we can possible give anything, while for others, it is perfectly planned and timed so that we're unable to give - we cannot bail them out of their predicament.  It is these times that God is doing a work in both the person in need, and the person who is unable to give.  For both people, it is a test of faith.  And for both, it can also be a temptation from the enemy to doubt.  But we must remember, God is always faithful, even when we are not.

If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. 2 Timothy 2:13 (NKJV)

When we find that we are unable to give to the one in need, it is a time to trust in God and to remember that we are not God.  What I mean by that is that we are not supposed to be everything to everyone - that is God's job alone.   God doesn't need our help; He is just allowing us to be a part of His blessing to others.  It is prideful to think that we are somehow the antidotes to another person's problem - this is a lie from the enemy.  It is always God who supplies our needs.  We should all find our "Hope" in God, and not in the resources of this world, or the help of a certain individual. 

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.Philippians 4:19 (NKJV)

I find that when I put my faith in "My" abilities to help others, I can fail miserably, and come crashing down when I don't have what it takes to help them.  I can loose hope and it can cause me to become discouraged and distracted from the truth.  I have found myself mad - mad at myself for not being a better steward of what I have been entrusted.  I have even found myself even frustrated at God - wondering why He wouldn't help me to help someone else (talk about distortion of the truth).  It was confusion on my part, because I was trying to play the role of God - even though I had told myself that I was simply trying to be the Christian that I thought He asked me to be.

I have found that those who have a strong passion for what they do can sometimes experience these types of moments.  They can feel at times that not enough is being done, or that things aren't being done fast enough. Simply put, these are times where we are being overwhelmed because we see the vast needs, and we feel incapable of meeting those needs.  But when we get frustrated, or anxious, then this can be a clear indicator that we are not resting in God's sovereignty, and we feel as though if we don't do it "Our" way, then it either won't get done right, or worse yet, won't get done at all.

Here me in this Christian, there are times when we need to get up and take steps in helping others - times of sacrifice; times of investing our resources, abilities and talents. There will even be times when we feel passionate about it, and I believe that this can be because God wants us to be involved.  But first and foremost, we should be praying immediately, and continuously about their needs (See 1Thess 5:17), and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us in every action.  We need to thanking God for these times and not despising them.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. 1Thessalonians 5:16-19 (NKJV)

Knowing that God has a perfect plan for every one of us should bring comfort, and peace.  There is "Hope for every man," and that hope in God alone.

STUDY QUESTION: What can we learn about the tough times we face, and our Lord by the Scriptures contained within this devotional?

PERSONAL INVENTORY: Are you fully dependent upon God for EVERYTHING?  Do you trust God's plan for your life?

APPLICATION: Don't try to be everything to everyone - let God do that.  Ask God through prayer, to show you what He would want you to do.  Now commit whatever He has given you to give.  Have a peace about every aspect as you trust in Him.