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Have you taken your Daily Step
Sometimes the step may be a long one, a leap even, however, life is still taken "One step at a time!"
Add one Godly thought a day and in a year you will have taken 365 steps closer to Him!
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Friday, March 23, 2007
"For the Right Reason"
5:10 "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, the theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:10 NAS
We sing, "Stand up, Stand up for Jesus" yet do we really mean it. Are we really ready to take the chance and stand up and face all that Jesus faces. Sometimes we really just want Him to stand up and take the brunt of righteousness for us so that we can be comfortable and safe. He did this and we are called to do no less. Although not one of us can stand where Jesus stood or rather hung on the cross. But, is this what we are asked to do? Yes, in as much as God enables us.
We do not have to save the world, Jesus' mighty arms bore that, but how many times have we let sin and injustice just roll on its merry way around us and over us and sometimes right through us without even raising a finger to help stem its heavy tide. There are many suffering and drowning under injustice and unrighteousness. Daily men and women suffer, fall and are swept under. We ourselves fear being pulled down with them. What can we do?
Jesus accused some of the Pharisees of this when he said that they laid heavy burdens on people with the law and then refused to help them, even with one finger. God's righteousness means helping those around, a lifting up from the toll of sin and unrighteousness. Sometimes we can be a major boost to someone and sometimes not. Only bear the weight you can and let others take up the rest of the load.
We are asked to bear witness not just to Jesus' being, but to His way of life. "Acknowledge Him in all his ways." Do your job with diligence and honesty. Each of you can serve righteousness in your own field. God will not give you more than you can do. If the tide is overwhelming you, you need counsel and help. Know the limits that God shows you.
We are also asked sometimes to bear the ridicule, persecution, and insensitivity that Christ bore. Sometimes what we fear is only a puff of smoke and other times very real. I have found that the hardest thing to bear is my own self criticism for what I did or did not do for righteousness. Ask yourself, "Would I rather bear the taunts of people or the realization that I could have helped?"
Lastly, make sure that it is not for your own self-righteousness that you feel a failure. That would be a sad suffering indeed. Then remember, if you failed to answer God's righteousness, He forgives! Ask for His forgiveness, learn, grow, and know that He wants you restored!
Copyright © 2007
Points to Ponder
1) If you want to save a drowning person, you must either be able to swim in the water or be on a firm place yourself.
2) If you do not have the ability to swim or a place to stand what should you do? Call for help? Learn how to swim? Get a rope?
3) Realize that there are some circumstances where you and no one else can help.
4) Be careful yourself that you do not ridicule or discourage someone who is acting righteously.
5) Righteousness equal right-minded with God or God-minded.
6) We must be careful what we consider failure. Some consider that Christ allowing himself to be murdered on the cross a failure. We know that this is not so. He accomplished all He came to do. Give time a chance to show the truth.
Copyright © 2007
Email Pastor Leslie