Life That Does Matter
Thursday, November 19, 2020 Good Morning, Lord V.O.D.: Psalms 1:41 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night., M.O.M.: Ephesians 4:31 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.(English Standard Version) Today's reading: Ezekiel 14-15 James 2
Life That Does matter
I long for Heaven where the color of one's skin or social classes, gender, nationality, and political preferences, or religions no longer matter because we will be without the earthly sin of judgement. But, as long as we live in this fallen world, 'they' will always be an issue. In the Body of Christ, this sin has no place. We must always know that we cannot be a part of 'they' but must love them.
Do our lives matter? Is this even the right question?
Self worth is a big discussion. Professionals tell us we must feel good about ourselves. We must have a healthy self-concept. Again, this is from the world.
Do I matter in the kingdom of God? Yes, Jesus died for you and if you had been the only one, He would have still died for you alone.
But, if I get caught up in meaning something in the Body of Christ or if I work to have a good reputation in the Body of Christ, I am working for the wrong thing-I am working for me.
I work for Jesus. I pray that I am obedient to Him. I pray that what I do will bring Him glory-not me. I pray I love Him more everyday. I pray that I live a humble life before the world so they can see Jesus in me not for me but for Him. I pray that Christ is my focus not my performance. I do fail-constantly. He forgives at my confession to Him and I go on but it is a daily battle.
If I work to feel my life matters, I work for self pride not Jesus. If I live for Jesus, my heart will be where He means for it to be. I will love what Christ has done and is doing in me because I am loving Him with all that I am.
Our lives in Christ matter. Why? It is God's plan to accomplish His plan through us on this earth and if we live obediently, our lives will matter the way God intends.
These questions still remain: "Do I obey Christ because I love Christ or do I perform because I am supposed to?"
In James, chapter 2, today we read: “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
Abraham took Isaac to offer him as a sacrifice because God told Him to. He was obedient. He believed God. He obeyed God. He was in no way concerned about if 'his life mattered' and God provided the sacrifice and Isaac was spared-because Abraham believed God.
Jesus came into the world and told the Jews that their sacrifices were worthless(see Hebrews 10)-their works without faith were dead.
The point of today is to see that no amount of work alone can make our lives matter in God's kingdom. Our belief, our faith, our love for Him compels us to obey and the result is our works bringing God good pleasure and glory.
Real, living faith in God without works is not even possible. It is impossible to love God and not do something for His glory-no matter how insignificant the world may view it.
Your life matters because God says it matters-not because you say it...your life matters because you believe God.
...because He loves us...
Father in Heaven, I have done things for the wrong reason-to bring me attention and not to bring You glory. Forgive me. Help me to love You more and more and to love those who do not love me. Great God of understanding and mercy... In the name of Jesus, Amen