The Main Thing

 

You’ve probably heard this statement before, “keep the main thing the main thing”.

This means we need to keep our priorities and our motives in alignment with God’s heart. At least that’s what it means to me.

We live in a distracting time, and distractions aren’t limited to the minor inconveniences of life. The recent panic in the world has been a major distraction for everyone. We have been forced to live with this distraction, but the pandemic is not the Main Thing; God is!

Distraction is a thing that prevents someone from giving full attention to something else, or an extreme agitation of the mind or emotions. I’ve found the first can lead to the second.

As a believer in Christ, if anything but God is first – all the time – we can assume distraction is the culprit. If this is you, as it is me, rest assured you’re not forgotten by God just because you forget about Him from time-to-time.

So, the big Question: “What do we do about it?”

The big Answer: Go to God’s Word, the Bible.

I’m no scholar, but my faith is strong and God’s Word is true (period). And how we deal with life will determine how life deals with us (that’s not a spiritual law but common sense); and who knows better than God Himself? Plus, when we do right things in faith and to glorify our Father in heaven, right things will happen.

So, what do we do?

1. Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.
2. Don't grieve God. Don't break His heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for Himself. Don't take such a gift for granted.
3. Make a clean break (stop) with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk.
4. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 4:29-32 (MSG)

Our role as Christians is not to get-get-get (from God), rather it is to GIVE-GIVE-GIVE to those in need. Others are experiencing the same distractions you are. You may be the ONLY word of encouragement someone will receive today…or not.

You are blessed because you know God!

Gary

Get Syndrome

 Get Syndrome

What do you think about the word “selfishness”? Who does it apply to? Where do you see it most? Does a particular person or previous experience come to mind when you think about selfishness?

The world in which we live, conditions people to be selfish, thinking only of their own needs. God tells us that He will provide our every need according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19) and that we should always be a blessing to others (Eccl. 11:2). So, when it comes to selfishness, we may think we are not.

We must break the addiction of selfishness to align our heart with God’s heart. An example is in the act of ‘forgiveness’. God forgives and Jesus teaches us ALL to ALWAYS forgive others. To forgive someone, we must ditch our own feelings about the situation, regardless of what it is, and regardless of if we were/are right. God doesn’t care if we’re right, He’s only interested in our willingness to lay aside our own “self” (selflessness) to allow forgiveness to flow through us.

God loves all, so must we. God forgives all, so must we.

Even during our prayer time, what are we asking God to do for us? What do you ask Him for? If you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives, so that you can use those things for yourself, then you will not receive that which you asked for because your intention (motive of the heart) is not what God can honor (James 4:3).

I think we can surmise that selfishness does not come from God. As a matter of fact, selfishness is the root of what I refer to as ‘The Pride Tree’ (because pride comes from selfishness).

Before asking God for anything, examine the motive of your heart and ask, “why is it that I’m asking for this?” Is it for you? Or is it to get something done God asked you to do? And if you don’t know, well this is a good time to pause, ponder and pray.

God knows what you need (for you) before you ask Him. This means you need to ask Him for what you need and He will give it. (Matthew 6:8 & Philippians 4:19).

You must rely on Him, trust in Him, and depend on Him for EVERYTHING! And in the doing of that, God will work out His plan in your life.

The only reason we are here on planet earth is to love God and others. We are to be a blessing to people; it’s that simple. And that is what God wants us to be doing.

Keeping in mind the act of self-less-ness, a great illustration can be found by looking at the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea: The Sea of Galilee has an inlet and outlet, it receives and gives life-giving water from The Jordan River. There is an abundance of life in, and around, the Sea of Galilee. In contrast, The Dead Sea only has an inlet, no outlet. It takes only and gives nothing. Except for some microorganisms and algae, The Dead Sea is devoid of life.

I heard a great encouragement recently, and it goes something like this:

“God gave us two hands, one for the giving and one for the taking. One hand should always be giving to others in need, and the other hand should be stretched out to heaven taking from God what He liberally gives.” Thank you Neil Diamond!

Keep in mind, God will do ONLY what you cannot do on your own, so that He receives the glory!

Flesh - Spirit contrast

Galatians 5:19-25 (GW)
In contrast, the flesh produces illicit sex, perversion, promiscuity, idolatry, drug use, hatred, rivalry, jealousy, angry outbursts, selfish ambition, conflict, factions, envy, drunkenness, wild partying, and similar things.
The Spirit produces (fruit of the Spirit) love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
SO, believing in Jesus, He has not only nailed my sin to the cross (in Jesus) He has also crucified my sinful-self with its selfish and evil passions that produce rotten fruit.

And NOW, the Spirit of God lives in me and I am free to live my life for God. So, if this is who I am and what I believe, I must chose to live my life in a manner that is dead to my old-self and live producing good fruit, that is grown by the Holy Spirit, Who is alive in me.
This is supernatural, yes. But it requires me to be subject to His work. I must want it. I must seek it. I must be submissive to it. I must be obedient and follow His instruction. Which means I need to seek and listen.

Small Still Voice

How difficult is it to hear a whisper in a crowded room? Add a loud television? Throw in a few distractions like a short skirt, and a sports update. Then turn up the volume on the background noise. In the midst of all of this, add a thought of a forgotten task you promised someone and a deadline at work you're behind on. How is it even possible to hear a whisper?
We must be deliberate about sacrificing the distractions in our life in order to hear the small still voice, Holy Spirit. Better said; we must make room in our busy lives to be quiet! Get serious!!!

Wisdom...

Wisdom is knowing the right thing to do; 
Integrity is doing the right thing.






Although knowing the 'right' thing to do is good, if you don't actually do the 'right' thing, then what?!
We are not gauged, or judged, or monitored, or rewarded, by what we think. Rather, we are measured by our actions; hence the saying "Actions speak louder than words". God said "we are to show our faith by our good works" James 2:18.

Many guys have argued the works vs. thought point by saying: "But God judges the heart!" Or, "He weighs the motives of the heart!" And this point is valid (God's Word says it is)!
However, life is not about what we think it is, rather what we make it (be careful to not argue this point to justify laziness).

Wisdom is from God. Integrity is what we choose to 'do' with that wisdom; it's a decision.
Do we argue, or do we ponder thoughts (such as this blog topic)?
Do we judge ourselves, or examine our motives (judging ourselves is not a bad thing, condemning ourselves is)?

God said we need to take every thought captive, to take heed of what we hear, to think on good things. We are responsible for our own thoughts and actions. Although we may struggle with the thoughts that enter our head, allowing negative, bad and evil stuff to linger (pondering) is not what God desires. We are to renew our mind so that we will not be conformed to the traditions and influences of this world - Romans 12:2.

The issue here is not how we are "judged" rather it is about how we exercise the wisdom God provides.

Think about judging yourself concerning your actions instead of how God judges what you might think. You may discover that God is more concerned about what you do with your thoughts.

DON'T Deceive Your Soul!

In James 1:23, we learn that the word of Truth is for "obeying". And if anyone hears the Word and does not obey it, he is like a man who looks at his own face in a mirror, and after that mirror is removed, he forgets what kind of person he really is.

The notion here is we frequently take notice of ourselves in a mirrors reflection. When we do, we can see all the blemishes and even our countenance. Some will identify the need for improvement and/or things they should to do to change. And we are affected by our own appearance; positive or negative. 

After the mirror is removed, we soon forget what manner of person we really are, because we no longer see our face reflected. We don't recollect how disagreeable we appeared, and our own resolutions of improving our countenance. 

The doctrines of God, faithfully preached, are such a mirror; he who hears cannot help discovering his own character, and being affected with his own deformity. He sorrows, and purposes amendment; but when the preaching is over, the mirror is removed. Not being careful to examine the records of his salvation, the perfect law of liberty (James 1:25) or not continuing to look therein, he soon forgets what manner of man he was; or, reposing some unscriptural trust in God's mercy, he reasons himself out of the necessity of repentance and amendment of life, and thus deceives his soul. Adam Clarke's Commentary.

Be careful to examine!
So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them [obeying them] will be like a sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built his house upon the rock. Matthew 7:24

Got Peace?

Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, but an encouraging word makes it glad. Proverbs 12:25

Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. The "anxiety" we encounter most often is the unexpected outcome of 'life', or the pressure of 'life'.

Pressure and unrealistic expectations can cause a man to fret over the things he has not achieved, or accomplished, or attained. These unrealistic expectations are seeded directly from the 'world system' in which we live, painting a vivid picture of "success" (as defined by this world). This picture of success includes attaining, maintaining, and sustaining stuff (the house, the car, etc.). This picture (if not properly filtered by the Word of God) creates a "vision" that wages war on our soul; things like greed, immorality, sexual perversity, selfishness, etc.

Breaking it down: This worlds definition of success is a Big Fat Lie (BFL). These issues that wage war on our soul cause confusion, disparity, and spiritual emptiness, and we become 'anxious'.

The remedy: A good word; an encouraging word. The only true 'good' word is God's Word. His Word will settle the restlessness, it will right our path. His Word is our souls TRUE NORTH. Think about like this; in the absence of pursuing God's Word, the 'flesh' (natural man) lacks moral and right guidance. Then, our spirit man will fight, which creates a conflict within us, and there is no peace. This is the "anxiety" we experience. Feeding our mind and heart with the infallible Word of God will right our path, it will provide truth in a world of lies. God's Word is light, where there is only darkness. His Word is life where there is only death. God's Word is right, in a world of wrong. His Word is peace that wars against anxiety.

G