God Afternoon Family,
I am amazed at how often I forget how utterly stupid I am without God. Of course I ought not be amazed...it is because I am stupid that I do forget I know nothing unless the Holy Spirit reveals it.
This past few weeks God has been dealing with me concerning my character. If you ever watch the show The Office you should be familiar with Dwight. He has a hunger for authority and doesn't mind intimidating people to get his way. He is arrogant, overbearing, and thinks more highly of himself than anyone should. I'm something like that...or at least I was.
Lately God has been dealing with me concerning the fruit of the Spirit, which I've never taken very seriously. When I think of fruit I tend to think in terms of numbers of people who I lead, work I've accomplished, sacrifice. This is where the stupid part comes in...I rarely think in terms of this scripture,
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Gal 5:22-23 NKJV
I've been saved 14 years and it took all of it for God to get me to the place where I finally understand that the end does not justify the means. Bullying people to accomplish God's will is not God's will. I may get the job done but when I think in terms of reward loss somehow it takes the sweetness out of the success.
Let me explain. God desires that men fear him not one another. Therefore if I intimidate people into doing what I say, then they do what they do as unto me, not as unto the Lord. Because they obeyed me out of fear and not a sincere desire to honor God they lose their reward. The work was accomplished but the worker labored in vain.
I am a leader in God's kingdom. I take my responsiblity for God's people seriously. If I intimidate others into fearing me above God I have caused them to sin. I have sinned. This realization has caused me to pause in my walk with God.
Without love, joy, peace, patience, self-control, etc...I am a tree without fruit and good for nothing except to be cursed by God. I am a Pharisee, the blind leading the blind.
But yet God loves me and bore with me these past 14 years until I could understand. Therefore I refuse to waste time in regret. He didn't bring me this far to leave me now. It's His will that I go forward and He will lead the way. I've confessed my sin and now He will bless Me to live a life that brings honor to Him. It's fruitbearing time!
I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back. Phil 3:13-14 (The Message)
Stay in prayer and in the Word!
Love in our Lord,
Lauren
sis lauren i love you and i admire your hard work i believe(my opinion) that your love for God brings your desire for hard work.What if the whole church get on board and work as hard as you no telling where we would be i do understand the blessing and the cursing you express. God knows your heart thats y your still striving and serving. Amen! i am a follower of Jesuschrist and the only way thru those kind of "offenses" from others is thru love alone. God loves us so much he will correct us. when he wants in his timing its time to move forward and thank god for correction! i dont want to offend God or others. im human and want to better be lead by the spirt as well. thank God HE'S faithful @ STILL IN CONTROLL! praise God! thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your encouragement...Yes, God knows my heart, better than I. Only by His grace will my work come out of the fire as gold instead of wood, hay , and stubble. Often what people see is not what God sees. I'll know for certain on that great day!
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