Do you just have belief in a God? Or do you believe what God says?
It is a matter of will and faith. Can you completely commit yourself to God and not yourself? In your life today, how much is what you want and believe, and how much comes from what God wants?
Once you and God settle the issue, He is forever on your side. Understand this is you battling you. Your mind versus your heart. God will bring you to a turning point. From that point, you either slide toward being a lazy Christian or giving your best for His Glory.
Are you waiting for perfection first? Do you want the world or your life to be perfect? If I had the perfect job, I would be able to come home without stress and be nicer to my wife and kids. If I had the perfect wife or husband or kids or friends, I’d get that new job. Then comes a new house or pickup. Maybe the kids want perfect parents or friends. We all have our own version of perfect.
There was a perfect world.
In Genesis verse one God creates and it is good. Verse two God creates man and woman and that is good. In verse three as sin enters the world, it is not good anymore or perfect.
We live in an imperfect world. Who is perfect? God.
The perfect world does not exist without God. When two people were left in the garden it was perfect. Then, they ruined the place.
When people tell you, “If we or they do this there will be no more suffering or hunger.” If everybody has equal access to food, medicine and entertainment and most importantly cheap stuff, there will be peace. When you hear these things, the people saying them never seem to mention God. Rather than lifting up the suffering people, I think we would all end up lonely and suffering equally. Without God being first, we will find a way to mess it up.
Peace is through God. The Holy Spirit illuminates the word of God. We find peace, the peace of Jesus was left to us. In John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
There are things God wanted me to do that I haven’t done and things I have done He didn’t want me to do. My imperfection is hard for me to accept and I know that thought is not from God.
He knows my imperfection.
Growing up, my dad never once said he was disappointed in me, but I always felt he was. I never measured up to a standard that didn’t exist except in my own head. I know its pursuit leads to complete destruction. That led to greater disappointment in myself.
Today is one step away from a new year. I’ve never been big on the renewal, resolution thing. But there is a loophole. God constantly renews us. He knows we will fail but loves us. Day by day, we can be forgiven and rest in His peace, grace and renewal.
The book of Matthew in chapters 5, 6 and 7 is how we are to treat and live with each other. Can you forgive others?
Can you forgive yourself? That is much harder. Each answer shows how much you believe God.
Please find a Bible preaching church to attend. We would love to see you at Lakeside Christian church in Shell Knob.
Al Slavik is the associate/youth pastor at Lakeside Christian Church in Shell Knob and may be reached at lccskyouthmin@gmail.com.
