Have you ever cleaned your house just because you’re expecting company? I’d like to say that my house is always immaculate and that I have never had to run around on a cleaning frenzy when guests are coming. However, I’ve had to do it, and it’s always a pretty sore reminder of what daily work has been neglected. I’ve also noticed that when I clean with the sole motivation that it be nice when guests arrive, it often goes right back to the state it was in before the company. Why? Well, just maybe because the motivation is only temporary.
Our spiritual lives can be the same way if we’re not careful. Our motivation to “clean” up our spiritual lives must develop out of our love for Christ and from our desire to be obedient to Him and His Word. God knows it all. He knows why we do what we do, and we will be measured by not only our actions, but also, or more importantly, by our motivation. For example, some people may go to church, pray, and even fast to get the approval and admiration of others. Some may give money to feed the poor, and many take care of the sick. Others concentrate on reading the Bible with the sole intent on becoming Biblical scholars. All these things are good things to do. However, if the motives for doing these things are not pure and out of our love for Christ, they are all in vain.
While we are cleaning up this year, let’s constantly check our motives. When we identify things in our lives and character that don’t line up with His Word and His will, let’s swiftly act to confess, repent, and do better. Let’s not justify any behavior, words, or deeds that are contrary to His Word. Yes, I understand that our justification comes from Him through our faith, but sin cannot be tolerated by a holy and just God.
David was a man after God’s own heart because of his ability to assess himself, identify his sins, and repent to God. In Psalm 51:2, David says, “Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.” He recognizes that only God can cleanse him from his sin. He continues, “Behold, thou desireth truth in the inward parts.” David understood that God requires and desires true repentance by being honest with Him, others, and ourselves. God searches every man’s heart, so we must take the time to be honest with ourselves and examine our own.
David explains, “For thou desireth not sacrifice; else I would give it: thou delightest not in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken and contrite heart” (Psalm 51:6-7). We can’t fool God. We can’t simply say we’re sorry and then excuse ourselves for doing the same thing again. True repentance turns away from the sin, and when you confess with a true repentant heart, God is faithful and just to forgive you of all unrighteousness.
Cleaning our spiritual lives up requires us to take inventory of where we are and who we are in Him. Sinful thoughts, acts, and behaviors have to go, much like we toss trash and junk in the garbage. We can’t say, “Well, God knows who I am and how much I can take.” We can’t say, “I can’t help it.” Wherever we fall short, we have a God who will never fail us. He’s given us power to overcome all the tendencies towards sinful actions and thoughts. His Word says that we will be held accountable for every idle word that proceeds out of our mouths.
I pray that none will read this as condemnation because it’s meant to encourage you to get to those secret places where sin may have crept in unaware. It has not been easy to admit some of the areas where I have clearly let Satan get a foothold, but I am grateful because I have the opportunity to repent and do better.
God has expectations from us. He created us to glorify Him and to be the salt and light of the earth. We cannot accomplish this with sin in the camp. Psalm 15:1 says, “Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in His heart.” Our motivation to clean house shouldn’t be out of fear but out of love and obedience. As the cleaning continues, let’s check our motives. When our motives are right, keeping things clean won’t be temporary, but a lifelong process, preparing and assisting us to bear fruit and live productive lives. Let’s walk upright, be righteous, and be truthful with ourselves and Him with a truly grateful and repentant heart.
Drop me a line on the Abiding in the Vine group page or visit www.MaRitaTeague.blogspot.com I’ve really enjoyed hearing from you all.
Love and Blessings,
MaRita
Showing posts with label david. Show all posts
Showing posts with label david. Show all posts
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Part II Stressed on the Job? Don't Give Up!
Have you ever been overlooked for a promotion on the job? Have you ever had a boss that’s jealous of your accomplishments, gifts, and talents? What about a boss that’s out to destroy you, or better yet—kill you? Well, that’s just a bit of the stress that David had to handle doing his job. David handled all of these pressures of difficult job situations and overcame them.
While Saul was still on the throne, Samuel privately anointed a very young David to be king. Although David knew that the Lord had chosen him to be king, he had many tasks that could be considered “beneath” what a king would perform. For example, David, a shepherd known for being “a cunning player on a harp” was beckoned by King Saul to play for him, a job most would not choose if they had already been anointed king. David played under the anointing and “Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him” (I Sam. 16:23). By being obedient and humble, David was blessed.
When Goliath challenged Israel, David stepped up courageously to fight the giant. His boss, Saul, was “greatly afraid” of the giant, yet that did not stop David (I Sam. 17:11). Saul didn’t even have confidence that David could do the job. Saul told him, “Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth” (I Sam. 17:33). David did not let Saul’s negativity sway him from the task. In fact, when Saul “girded his sword upon his armour,” David took them off. David knew that he had to use the tools God had equipped him to use to get the job done. You know the story, with five smooth stones and a sling, David killed Goliath, leaving no doubt, as David says, that “the battle is the Lord’s” (I Sam. 17:47).
When faced with Goliath, others saw a giant, but David’s perspective was different. He saw a mortal man defying God. He looked at his position from God’s point of view and could fight more effectively.
There is so much more that David faced as Saul’s admiration of him turned to jealousy. Saul hunted David down, trying desperately to murder him out of his rage and hatred of him. While Saul’s position had made him proud and arrogant, David’s humility remained apparent, even as a whole nation praised him.
Whether you’re working on a job or in the ministry, it’s important not to let jealousy enter your heart. Jealousy destroys a person on the inside and then spreads like a virus, wanting to kill everything in its path. David didn’t hold malice in his heart toward Saul. He had to wait and go through the process before he could be king. (Although he made many mistakes along the way, he was a man after God’s heart because he quickly confessed and repented of his sins.) Moreover, when he had the opportunity to kill Saul and was being coaxed into doing it, he didn’t compromise his standards to go along with the group. He refused to kill Saul (several times), his family, or descendents.
Most of us would never imagine doing the things that Saul did to someone on the job or in the ministry, but we do have to be careful about not being jealous when others are elevated and we are not. Even if you feel that you are more qualified, deserving or gifted, harboring jealousy towards anyone else is most dangerous for you. Spreading gossip or talking unfavorably about anyone else is wrong. Period.
One way that I’m sure to eliminate potential stress is to watch what I say and avoid negative conversation about anybody or anything. Tension and stress on the job or at church can’t be eased by negative talk or “venting” as we like to say. I don’t know how many times I’ve said I was just venting and there was no positive end. (However, I do think if you can talk to someone in confidence and pray, that can be productive.) We have to pray about difficult people and love them. Instead of being led by our emotions, we have to use the tools that God has given us in His Word and through prayer to defeat the enemy so that we can live the victorious lives that God has for each of us.
While Saul was still on the throne, Samuel privately anointed a very young David to be king. Although David knew that the Lord had chosen him to be king, he had many tasks that could be considered “beneath” what a king would perform. For example, David, a shepherd known for being “a cunning player on a harp” was beckoned by King Saul to play for him, a job most would not choose if they had already been anointed king. David played under the anointing and “Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him” (I Sam. 16:23). By being obedient and humble, David was blessed.
When Goliath challenged Israel, David stepped up courageously to fight the giant. His boss, Saul, was “greatly afraid” of the giant, yet that did not stop David (I Sam. 17:11). Saul didn’t even have confidence that David could do the job. Saul told him, “Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth” (I Sam. 17:33). David did not let Saul’s negativity sway him from the task. In fact, when Saul “girded his sword upon his armour,” David took them off. David knew that he had to use the tools God had equipped him to use to get the job done. You know the story, with five smooth stones and a sling, David killed Goliath, leaving no doubt, as David says, that “the battle is the Lord’s” (I Sam. 17:47).
When faced with Goliath, others saw a giant, but David’s perspective was different. He saw a mortal man defying God. He looked at his position from God’s point of view and could fight more effectively.
There is so much more that David faced as Saul’s admiration of him turned to jealousy. Saul hunted David down, trying desperately to murder him out of his rage and hatred of him. While Saul’s position had made him proud and arrogant, David’s humility remained apparent, even as a whole nation praised him.
Whether you’re working on a job or in the ministry, it’s important not to let jealousy enter your heart. Jealousy destroys a person on the inside and then spreads like a virus, wanting to kill everything in its path. David didn’t hold malice in his heart toward Saul. He had to wait and go through the process before he could be king. (Although he made many mistakes along the way, he was a man after God’s heart because he quickly confessed and repented of his sins.) Moreover, when he had the opportunity to kill Saul and was being coaxed into doing it, he didn’t compromise his standards to go along with the group. He refused to kill Saul (several times), his family, or descendents.
Most of us would never imagine doing the things that Saul did to someone on the job or in the ministry, but we do have to be careful about not being jealous when others are elevated and we are not. Even if you feel that you are more qualified, deserving or gifted, harboring jealousy towards anyone else is most dangerous for you. Spreading gossip or talking unfavorably about anyone else is wrong. Period.
One way that I’m sure to eliminate potential stress is to watch what I say and avoid negative conversation about anybody or anything. Tension and stress on the job or at church can’t be eased by negative talk or “venting” as we like to say. I don’t know how many times I’ve said I was just venting and there was no positive end. (However, I do think if you can talk to someone in confidence and pray, that can be productive.) We have to pray about difficult people and love them. Instead of being led by our emotions, we have to use the tools that God has given us in His Word and through prayer to defeat the enemy so that we can live the victorious lives that God has for each of us.
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