All My Days Are the Lord's

A friend of mine recently commented in his Facebook status that "all my days are the Lord's."  Of course, I thought, Amen!  I agree with that!  But then, I started pondering what that really means...

And it occured to me that if, in fact, I believe that all my days are the Lord's, then they are not mine - and if they are not mine, then shouldn't my days be ordered in such a fashion as to please the Lord, the one who owns them?  And yet, when I considered my "to do" list for that very day, I could not honestly say that everything on my list was written there with the Lord in mind, but only (or mostly) for myself...

Hmmm.

Someone once commented to me that they didn't believe "every" part of our lives needed to have a spiritual connotation to it.  But I disagree.  If you've trust Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, recognizing that YOUR sins put him on the cross, then you are bought with a price; you are not your own.  And the Holy Spirit lives within you; you are called to be holy - set apart.  So then, every part of our days, every item on our to-do lists, ought to be considered in light of what the Lord wants.

Does your to-do list contain items to pick up at the grocery store?  How does that relate to the Lord?  Well - do you look for opportunites to be kind, to strike up conversations with those around you?  Do you consider - with thanksgiving! - how blessed you are by God that you have not only the financial ability, but also the physical ability to go to the store in the first place?  Do you praise God for his provision and watch care over you?

In everything we do, in every item on our to-do list, there is opportunity to thank and praise God.  But even as you do that, be thoughtful - I also recently saw a post about "opportunity costs" - in other words, as you consider purchasing yet another pair of new heels for yourself, is there something else that money could buy - another opportunity to use those same dollars for the benefit of someone else?  Not everything is "good" or "bad" - sometimes, it's an issue of "good" or "better."

So as you wander (or charge full-steam ahead!) through your day today, consider: is my day for the Lord - or is it for myself?

Are You a Useful Servant? - Part III

We've been looking at ways to be useful for God's glory.  Today's verses highlight an issue I know we've all seen, if not actually been a part of.

Romans 14:13, 19

¹³ Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. 

¹⁹ Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

We are a useful servant when we desire to do everything for the good of others, to "build up" (edify) others.  Perhaps you know of something that offends someone, but it does not offend you.  Here's an example of what I mean:  There are some people who are offended by women wearing pants; there are some people who have no issue whatsoever with women wearing pants.  One way to be a useful servant would be to avoid offending someone who has an issue with this by not wearing pants when you  know these people will be present.  You may be thinking, "But I have every right to wear pants if I want to!  They shouldn't be able to tell me what to do!"  Ah - but remember, the goal of a useful servant is to build up others - not to serve self.  Does it cost you anything to avoid the conflict and thereby avoid offending your brother or sister in Christ?  No.  But it will go a long way in making "peace" as verse 19 encourages us to do.

This is just one example; I know you will think of others.  The point is that the useful servant has a heart for others first, always striving to please the Lord.  You may have a different opinon on something, but your opinion ought not to be so important to you that you are willing to proclaim it at the cost of alienating the people around you.  Take a stand on  doctrinal issues, yes.  Take a stand against sin, yes.  But in areas of liberty, always defer to your brother/sister in Christ.

Galatians 5:13

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.  (emphasis mine)

Are you a useful servant? Part II

Yesterday we talked about being useful by encouraging someone in the Lord.  Today, let's look at these verses:

Romans 1:8

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

A useful servant is someone who is thankful - thankful not only for personal things, but also thankful for those around her.  Is there someone in your church that could use a word of thanks?  Maybe someone who is not necessarily "up front" all the time; someone who works faithfully behind the scenes - in the nursery, or doing maintenance around the church, or doing laundry for the prophets chamber/kitchen linens/cleaning rags, etc?  How about someone who mows the yard or drives the church bus or is just simply ALWAYS there - faithful to every service?

Romans 12:10-11

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

^{Another way to be "useful" is to have an attitude of humility - to show love and preference to someone else.  How could you show preference to someone?  Hold the door?  Carry a child?  Give a hug?  Offer to get something someone needs?  Really observe those around you; ask the Lord to reveal a need - when you're looking, the opportunities will definitely present themselves!  Be useful today - put someone else first.}

 

Are You a Useful Servant?

Ever have one of those days (or weeks) where you don't feel like you're adding any value?  When maybe you just don't feel like you've done anything worthwhile and yet others around you seem to be accomplishing much?

God wants us to be "successful" in our Christian lives - He wants us to add value!  But our "success" or "value" is not measured as the world measures success - it is measured by God's standards.  Here are a few examples: 

      

Romans 15:14

And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
  
Paul, talking to the believers, encouraged them, that they were filled with the Holy Spirit and able to "admonish" or counsel one another.  Now, lest you think you are not able to "counsel" anyone, hold on - look at this next verse...

2 Corinthians 1:4

Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

Ah - see?  It can be as simple as comforting someone who is going through something you've already experienced - you CAN counsel!  Share how God worked in your life though a similar circumstance.  Have you done that this week?  Comforted someone?  Shared a verse that is dear to you with someone?  Sent a note of encouragement; let someone know you are praying for them?


If you have, then you HAVE been successful this week - you HAVE added value.  Do not measure your "success" by the world's standards - measure your "success" by God's standards.  This is a simple thing; if you haven't done this yet this week, purpose in your heart to do it before the week is over.  You CAN be a useful servant!

Why Wait?

Do you ever feel like you're in a "holding pattern"?  You've got so many ideas; the Lord has given you a burden for a certain ministry - yet, circumstances just don't seem to be lining up.  Or the timing just doesn't seem quite right.  Or the opportunity just never seems to present itself.  Or someone else is asked to participate in the very thing you so long to minister in.  Or maybe you're just simply discouraged; it just doesn't seem as though the Lord is at work.

I was encouraged this morning in my quiet time to study the following verses:

Psalm 130:5-7

⁵ I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.
⁶ My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.
⁷ Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.

Our God is merciful and there is "plenteous" redemption when we wait on Him!

Galatians 6:9

⁹ And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

God promises that we WILL reap if we just hang in there!

Hebrews 6:12

¹² That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

God says we will inherit the promises - HIS promises!  What a blessing!  What an encouragement that is to my heart.  :)

Hebrews 10:35-36

³⁵ Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence (payment) of reward.
³⁶ For ye have need of patience (endurance), that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Wow - God says that my payment will be reward; that when I endure, when I keep doing the will of God, I will receive His promises.  To me, this is a wonderful incentive to "hang in there"!

James 1:3-4

³ Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
⁴ But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect (mature) and entire, wanting nothing.

So many of us want to grow in the Lord, what to become that "mature, godly" Christian - but we don't want to accomplish that God's way - we want to take the shortcut; we want "instant" godliness.  But God's Word tells us that when our faith is tried, we gain endurance.  And endurance is what leads to maturity and godliness...and we all know there is nothing "instant" about endurance!!  

James 5:11

¹¹ Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful (full of compassion), and of tender mercy.

Our Lord knows our hearts; He knows our desires and He knows our needs.  He knows when we're ready to move head and He knows the best way to get us ready. "All" we have to do is "wait" - wait by doing the things He's set before us today; taking the opportunities He gives us today.  Tomorrow will come, and other opportunities, other ministries, other results will come - as we wait and serve and rejoice in the things He has put on our plates today.  He is full of compassion and tender mercy - He knows exactly what and when we need something.  

You can trust Him - He will not fail you.  :)