My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. John 10:27 (NKJV)
Have you ever noticed how you are always looking forward to something? It's that anticipation of going somewhere special or doing something you really like, and even being with someone you really enjoy. Think about for a moment and ask yourself what you are looking forward to.
- It could be you are looking forward to the weekend.
- Maybe you are looking forward to a lunch or dinner date with someone special - perhaps a spouse, or one of your children, or even a friend.
- It could be you are looking forward to buying a new car.
- Or, perhaps you are looking forward to your next paycheck just so you can pay some bills, and it has nothing to do with excitement, but just survival.
Soon, questions then arise, such as,
Q: How do I get there?
Q How do I obtain those things I desire?
The answer to these questions can take a million different paths and are dependent on the person's desires and goals and spiritual integrity.
It really does amaze me on how much energy we will spend on putting together intricate plans to achieve these goals we so much desire and look forward to. We will work feverishly, putting forth extra effort, including overtime. We will save money and put it aside, stockpiling it with hopes of accumulating enough to obtain more possessions. We will practice long hours, honing our skills and abilities so we might sit atop the winner's platform in a sports activity. All this to say, our time, money, efforts, and abilities are sometimes taxed, and even misappropriated as we will pull out all of the stops to achieve our goals.
You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. James 4:2-3 (NKJV)
The point is, we are continually looking forward to something, and trying to figure out how we get there. This is not necessarily a bad thing, especially when we are looking forward to things such as, reading our bibles, going to bible studies or church, or serving the needs of the body of believers in the ministry. What can be wrong is when we don't desire to have a relationship with God, but desire only the things of this world. Or, when we simply put the desires of the world ahead of our Lord and Savior, Jesus.
I believe this problem arises because we are asking ourselves the wrong questions. Our questions should not first, and foremost, be centered how we should get there, or how we can obtain our desires. Our questions should instead be centered on the object of our desires and in our end destination. We should instead be asking ourselves questions such as,
Q: Where am I going?
Q: What do I desire?
Jesus told us how we could know where our heart was by finding what we treasure the most.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21 (NKJV)
The way I see it, Jesus had it right when He said we were sheep. You see sheep tend to follow. The question we must ask of ourselves is,
Q: What or who am I following? Am I following the desires of my heart, or am I following the Lord, His Word, and His way?
God told us He would guide our paths (Proverbs 3:5-6), and Jesus also said, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." (John 10:27)
Hey Christian, we should be reminding ourself each day of whom it is we have proclaimed to follow. We should remember we will be tempted to veer off the proper path continually. We need to continue to focus on where it is we are going. We have eternity just ahead - let's not veer off the path today leading to eternity spent with our Lord. Let's keep our eyes fixed upon Him and His Word - let's ponder the path were on and make an adjustment if we need to right now.
Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil. Proverbs 4:25-27 (NKJV)
STUDY QUESTION: What can we learn about our fleshly nature and God's guiding wisdom for keeping us on His path today from the Scriptures contained within this devotional?
PERSONAL INVENTORY: Are you one of Jesus' sheep? Do you know His voice, and are you following it, or is it something else catching your attention?
APPLICATION: Stop and ponder the path you are on today. Is it one following in the footsteps of Jesus, or is it veering? Make the adjustments necessary to get back on the proper path. Ask God to show you and guide you back - it's as quick as repenting of anything not in His will and choosing to follow Him and abide in His Word.
Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit;" whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." James 4:13-15 (NKJV)
Have you ever had the thought you were to go and speak with someone about something? It's a strong feeling within, and it won't go away. It can build and build until it becomes a burden upon your heart. Such was the case a couple of weeks ago with me. I was in the midst of a very busy week - attempting to get many things done so I could go on vacation with a clear mind. In the midst of my busyness this thought kept coming to meI was to have a conversation with my nephew Gabe.
Gabe was having some serious health issues, and God was prompting me to speak with him. As the week progressed, so did my burden to have the conversation. Finally I made the time to go and talk with him about his walk with God. Gabe had been plagued with health issues throughout his life, and his body was scarred on every limb as a reminder of bygone battles and surgical procedures. As long as I can remember Gabe had to fight for what most of us take for granted in the way of health.
As I thought about our conversation, I wondered to myself if he had developed a bitter attitude towards God for the cards he was dealt in life - all the pain and suffering. As I was thinking about this, the Lord gave me an analogy I was to share with Gabe - one putting his temporary life into a proper perspective.
Loaded with this analogy, I confronted Gabe and begin to share what God had told me to say.
I said, "Gabe, what if you had several billions of dollars? Now suppose you took every paper dollar and converted them into 100-copper pennies. You would now have hundreds of billions of pennies, making up virtual copper mountains. Now let's say you reached in and grabbed one, and you find it to be worn, with some deep scratches - it has been greatly used. As you look at the rest of the pennies they are much different - they are in mint condition; shinny and never used or touched - they are perfect!"
I said, "The Lord has told me, this used and scared penny is your life here on earth - it represents the small time you have here. Those brand new perfect pennies represent your time and body in eternity - there is no scratches, no scars, and no wear and tear - just perfection. And there is no end to these shiny pennies."
I told him, "Without your time here in this temporary body, you could never have developed your faith, perseverance or your integrity. The very trials and tribulations you faced in your health were the tools God has used to shape your soul, and your very character, which you will take with you when you leave this earth. Our time here on earth is so short, and is actually referred to as a vapor."
Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Psalms 39:5 (NKJV)
When Gabe was young, he wanted to become a doctor so he could help heal other children who were suffering physically, and I reminded him of this. I then proposed the question, "What if you were used by God to help heal people spiritually today - would you still want to do that?" He answered very strongly, "Yes!" I told him God would honor this, and there were going to be many people who would be drawn back to God in their Christian walk because of what he was going through. Gabe agreed and we prayed for God to use him in whatever manor He chose, so others would be healed spiritually.
I am writing this devotional today, as a testimony of what God wants to do in each of our lives today. God wants to use each of us, and everything we have experienced and endured as our own personal testimony to help others. To steer them from making those same choices, and to share the glorious things God has done in our lives - the healing, and the transformation. To encourage others of something greater, in the midst of their struggles and their fights - a hope we can grasp hold of - one of promises made to us by our creator.
Hey Christian, I want to encourage you today. Maybe your health is the issue, and you find your body failing you - know this; God is doing an amazing work within you during this time, and He is preparing you for something much greater.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 2Corinthians 4:16 (NKJV)
Maybe the next time you see an old beat up penny on the ground, you will have a greater value for its worth, and of your worth as well. Christ died for you, and this makes you pretty valuable.
STUDY QUESTION: What can we learn from the Scriptures contained within this devotional about our life?
PERSONAL INVENTORY: Is God's Word renewing you day-by-day?
APPLICATION: Seek the Lord for what you will do today, and ask for His guidance. God will use you in a mighty way if you allow Him. Remember we are but clay in the potters hands - let's let Him mold us and shape our lives into the vessels of honor He chooses, rather than allowing the enemy to shape us into vessels of dishonor.
