We’re not saved by works.
Nobody is perfect.
God knows my heart.
I would, but. .
How often have we heard someone say this? How often have we maybe even wrestled with thoughts like ourselves? While there may be scriptural truths in these thoughts or thoughts like these, we have to be careful not to use them to justify our unwillingness to change. We certainly shouldn’t use them to avoid change, discomfort, and/or work. Our faith should not justify inactivity in service for the Lord. Instead, our faith should be the source of all of our activity and productivity.
Since I grew up in a rural area, my siblings and I often helped our parents to plant and care for our gardens. We understood at an early age that if you didn’t plant, you didn’t get fruit and vegetables. We watched my dad till the land, laboriously breaking up the hardened soil. Then, we would go through the entire process of planting, watering, and weeding the garden, happily reaping from what we had sown.
While most of us understand this principle, especially when it comes to other things, such as our jobs, if we aren’t careful, we will justify ourselves right out of doing much of anything to mature ourselves spiritually, let alone helping anyone else along the way. We don’t want to break up that hardened soil of our hearts. Sometimes we don’t have energy or desire to do anything but satisfy our own selfish desires, which, by the way, yield no real, lasting fruit. However, our faith should be the impetus for work, not the excuse to avoid it. After all, reaping and sowing are Biblical principles that work.
Even after planting, if we didn’t water and weed the garden, the plants would die. It is no different in our spiritual lives. Our water, our life source, is Jesus, the living Word and His Word. It feeds us, quenches our thirst, and strengthens us to grow in Him.
I am convinced that our faith doesn’t work for us when we’ve allowed the cares of the world to choke us. Just like the weeds will take all the nourishment from plants if they’re not eliminated, sin, excuses, and laziness can block our access to having our faith really work for us.
In other words, our faith is the foundation. Out of our faith, we should be compelled to do. In James 2:14-26 gives us a whole commentary on faith and works. One verse that will probably be familiar to most is found is verse 20, which reads, “faith without works is dead.” Then, the scriptures refer to Abraham and his willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac. Like Rahab, who is also mentioned, Abraham’s faith and his works worked together—they couldn’t be separated.
So, while we are justified by faith (Romans 5:1), we can “then see how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” If we believe in Him, then we will work for Him and to His glory. In turn, our faith will work for us and will cause us to work.
Our faith is working for us and for others, if people see Christ in us. God really does know our hearts. His Word tells us that the just lives by faith. Living by faith is something that shows, and there is evidence by your speech, actions, and lifestyle. In addition, when you live by faith, you get results. Every person in the Bible who exhibits faith is a doer-he or she acts as a result of faith. He or she gets things done!
I’m ready to get my faith to work! How about you? Do you need to get more involved? Does someone need you to visit or call them? Have you been neglected praying for something or someone? Have you accepted that call that God has on your life to do something for Him? Do you just need to buckle down and join a church? Maybe become faithful in Bible study? Whatever it is, JUST DO IT!
Exercising Faith with You,
MaRita
Showing posts with label Faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Faith. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Friday, March 12, 2010
Too Focused For Distraction
Have you ever had your bubble blown up, soaring high and hopeful, only to have it burst into tiny pieces right before your eyes? Have you ever pulled blankets to keep your upper body warm, only to discover that your feet were sticking out? I’m sure you get the idea. Obviously, like many of you, I’m well-acquainted with these types of scenarios. In the thick of it, it can be difficult to stay focused and centered on our faith and not life’s changing circumstances. However, if we are focused and armed with the full armor of God, we can prepare ourselves for the spiritual battle with distractions.
When we’re faced with problems and difficult situations, the worst thing we can do is to lose our focus. This past week has been an unusually difficult week in many respects. There have been some very big challenges and then not so big one, such as my son beating my new Mac pressed powder like a drum, covering his body and the floor with it. (I have to mention how he made the kitchen wall his art canvas and an orange and green crayon his paintbrush as well this week.) Anyway, I got caught up in the emotions of the negative situations and temporarily lost focus. I even attempted to pray, reading scriptures and devotions. However, it had little impact initially because my mind had locked onto the problems and its possible devastating consequences. I had caved to the pressure.
We have to make a deliberate choice not to waste any time resting our thoughts on the negatives, which only lead to anxiety, worry, and depression. Anything that distracts us from God’s Word and His will are dangerous because it inevitably leads to sin. As elementary as this is going to sound, I realized that I can’t have faith and worry. It’s just like the principle that says light and dark can’t occupy the same space. Hebrews 12:1 instructs us, “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” If we choose to focus on our faith, it can keep us from distraction. Every single care has to be given to Him so that we can accomplish what God has for us in its fullness.
Paul admonishes us in I Corinthians 7:35 to “attend upon the Lord without distraction.” In Matthew 6:33-34, Jesus says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.” Jesus has given us a divine order to the complexities of life. Priority one is for us to seek His kingdom and His righteousness. I have to admit that when I really meditated on these words, the worry and anxiety broke. When I’m obedient, the worry, fear and anxiety dissolve.
Problems and challenges have a way of revealing where we really are. We can panic, worry, and delve into a sea of despair, or we can put the problem or challenge where it rightfully belongs, at the feet of Jesus. Anytime I’m tempted to pick it back up, I have to remember to quickly let it go and refocus.
I am reminded of Jesus teaching about those who build their houses on rock and sand in Matthew 7:21-28. He explains that not everyone who gives prophesies, prays, and performs good works in His name will enter into the kingdom of heaven. Only those that hear and do what he says will be like the wise man who built his house on a rock. Remember, “the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.”
Is your house built on a rock? If not, consider surrendering all to Him. Storms will and do come, but there is safety. Cast all of your cares upon Him. He loves you and doesn’t want you weighted down by the pressures of life. He can fill your joy and every dark space. He can cover you under his blanket of unconditional love, protection, and provision. He did it for me, and I know He can do it for you.
I’d love to hear from you. Drop me a line on the Abiding in the Vine Facebook group page or comment at www.MaRitaTeague.blogspot.com
Blessings,
MaRita
When we’re faced with problems and difficult situations, the worst thing we can do is to lose our focus. This past week has been an unusually difficult week in many respects. There have been some very big challenges and then not so big one, such as my son beating my new Mac pressed powder like a drum, covering his body and the floor with it. (I have to mention how he made the kitchen wall his art canvas and an orange and green crayon his paintbrush as well this week.) Anyway, I got caught up in the emotions of the negative situations and temporarily lost focus. I even attempted to pray, reading scriptures and devotions. However, it had little impact initially because my mind had locked onto the problems and its possible devastating consequences. I had caved to the pressure.
We have to make a deliberate choice not to waste any time resting our thoughts on the negatives, which only lead to anxiety, worry, and depression. Anything that distracts us from God’s Word and His will are dangerous because it inevitably leads to sin. As elementary as this is going to sound, I realized that I can’t have faith and worry. It’s just like the principle that says light and dark can’t occupy the same space. Hebrews 12:1 instructs us, “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” If we choose to focus on our faith, it can keep us from distraction. Every single care has to be given to Him so that we can accomplish what God has for us in its fullness.
Paul admonishes us in I Corinthians 7:35 to “attend upon the Lord without distraction.” In Matthew 6:33-34, Jesus says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.” Jesus has given us a divine order to the complexities of life. Priority one is for us to seek His kingdom and His righteousness. I have to admit that when I really meditated on these words, the worry and anxiety broke. When I’m obedient, the worry, fear and anxiety dissolve.
Problems and challenges have a way of revealing where we really are. We can panic, worry, and delve into a sea of despair, or we can put the problem or challenge where it rightfully belongs, at the feet of Jesus. Anytime I’m tempted to pick it back up, I have to remember to quickly let it go and refocus.
I am reminded of Jesus teaching about those who build their houses on rock and sand in Matthew 7:21-28. He explains that not everyone who gives prophesies, prays, and performs good works in His name will enter into the kingdom of heaven. Only those that hear and do what he says will be like the wise man who built his house on a rock. Remember, “the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.”
Is your house built on a rock? If not, consider surrendering all to Him. Storms will and do come, but there is safety. Cast all of your cares upon Him. He loves you and doesn’t want you weighted down by the pressures of life. He can fill your joy and every dark space. He can cover you under his blanket of unconditional love, protection, and provision. He did it for me, and I know He can do it for you.
I’d love to hear from you. Drop me a line on the Abiding in the Vine Facebook group page or comment at www.MaRitaTeague.blogspot.com
Blessings,
MaRita
Monday, November 30, 2009
The Faith Component by Guest Blogger Kristy J. Downing
Our lives are so filled with activities and obligations; naturally we grow and develop in the directions that pull us the most. We may be an outstanding engineer or minister but have a desire to be a better father or spouse. I want to ask “what in life is pulling you the hardest right now?” Is it work or your career? Is it your family? Is it working out and eating healthily? Is it being sociable? As we grow and develop in the direction of the things that have the heaviest gravitational pull in our lives, let us not forsake the faith component. Ask ourselves what practical routine we can implement in our lives to increase our faith? Like studying Japanese, learning the piano, improving our culinary skills and Rome faith and a strong relationship with God is not built overnight. It comes through communicating with God (or praying), it comes through studying His word (or reading the Bible) and it is evidenced in our actions (or treating humanity in the manner in which we would like to be treated).
This month let’s pick a way in which we can periodically bolster our relationship with God. Regardless of where we are there is room for growth and aspiration towards perfection. See Paul’s teachings in Philippians 3:12-14 (“not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.” NKJV). For some it will be attending a church ceremony, for others who do that routinely already it might be studying Ecclesiastes – written by the son of David, believed to be the wisest person to ever walk the face of this earth – or taking 15 minutes in the evening or mornings to read a new Bible verse, and for others it might be volunteering at a local shelter during the holidays, showing God your earnest appreciation for what you DO have instead of asking for something additional.
Many times in life we are faced with obstacles and situations that are apparently larger than us: why do we have to die Lord? What will happen with my marriage or my family? When will I get a new job? Why do I have no friends? … these situations that are by and large out of our control. Yet we dedicate our life energy to worrying about them. Christ teaches us, however, that such worrying is fruitless. Matt 6:25-34. James later teaches that we should couple our faith with works. James 2:18-24. We are advised to rely on faith and do all we can.
I admire the faith and conviction of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego who defied king Nebuchadnezzar who requested that all in his kingdom bow down and worship a golden idol. Daniel 3. They were to be burned alive if they did not oblige. Do you think they were popular at that time or unafraid of the consequences of the empowered? Obviously. They were unwilling, however, to compromise their faith and do something they knew would be unpleasing to God. (“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case [that they were to be placed in a fiery furnace], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”) How many of us are willing to say, even if God does not save me I will stand in faith? Even if I am embarrassed, lose my marriage, my life or my job, I stand in faith? Instead at times the possibility of a disappointing circumstance serves as reason to abandon our faith or self it until more comfortable circumstances present themselves. Even though it is difficult, when opposition arises that is the time in which we should amplify our faith not diminish it.
Recollect the good things that are results of an attitude of faith. Hebrew 11.
Miracles & blessings!
KJD
This month let’s pick a way in which we can periodically bolster our relationship with God. Regardless of where we are there is room for growth and aspiration towards perfection. See Paul’s teachings in Philippians 3:12-14 (“not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.” NKJV). For some it will be attending a church ceremony, for others who do that routinely already it might be studying Ecclesiastes – written by the son of David, believed to be the wisest person to ever walk the face of this earth – or taking 15 minutes in the evening or mornings to read a new Bible verse, and for others it might be volunteering at a local shelter during the holidays, showing God your earnest appreciation for what you DO have instead of asking for something additional.
Many times in life we are faced with obstacles and situations that are apparently larger than us: why do we have to die Lord? What will happen with my marriage or my family? When will I get a new job? Why do I have no friends? … these situations that are by and large out of our control. Yet we dedicate our life energy to worrying about them. Christ teaches us, however, that such worrying is fruitless. Matt 6:25-34. James later teaches that we should couple our faith with works. James 2:18-24. We are advised to rely on faith and do all we can.
I admire the faith and conviction of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego who defied king Nebuchadnezzar who requested that all in his kingdom bow down and worship a golden idol. Daniel 3. They were to be burned alive if they did not oblige. Do you think they were popular at that time or unafraid of the consequences of the empowered? Obviously. They were unwilling, however, to compromise their faith and do something they knew would be unpleasing to God. (“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case [that they were to be placed in a fiery furnace], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”) How many of us are willing to say, even if God does not save me I will stand in faith? Even if I am embarrassed, lose my marriage, my life or my job, I stand in faith? Instead at times the possibility of a disappointing circumstance serves as reason to abandon our faith or self it until more comfortable circumstances present themselves. Even though it is difficult, when opposition arises that is the time in which we should amplify our faith not diminish it.
Recollect the good things that are results of an attitude of faith. Hebrew 11.
Miracles & blessings!
KJD
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