What have YOU done for ME lately?

We live in a "What have you done for me lately" world don't we?  It seems like everywhere we turn there are people with expectations of us.  It is so easy to get caught up in trying to meet the demands and expectations of others.  Sometimes, we even have selfish motives for this pursuit of others' approval.  I know, some truths are just hard to hear.  Keep in mind, not hearing the truth does not make it less true!  We live in a society where we are all expected to pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps, (What are bootstraps anyway?).  We are expected by the world to make our own way and accomplish anything we want under our own power and authority.  DOING more perpetuates more and greater rewards.  Work harder, get noticed, get a raise and promotion.  At home, maybe we replace genuine love for our spouse by working harder and bringing home more money.  Maybe we give our kids everything they ask for in place of spending time with them and pouring into them.  All of these behaviors are based on "us doing".

Is your spiritual life based on the same principal?  Are you working your way into heaven?  Are you relying on your own actions and efforts to ensure your relationship with Jesus is intact?  If this is the case in your life I want to urge you to continue reading.  See, salvation through Christ has EVERYTHING to do with what HE did and NOTHING to do with what we do or did.  We read in Ephesians 2:8-9 "For it is by grace you have been saved by faith- and this not from (insert your name here), it is the gift of God, not by works so that (insert your name here) cannot boast."  See, Jesus did the "doing" on the cross.  Salvation and eternity in heaven have nothing to do with how good you are, (Our righteousness is like filthy rags- Isa. 64:6) how much you do or don't do.

Be encouraged, 2 Cor. 6:2 reminds us that "Now is the time of God's favor, now is the time of salvation"  I want to challenge you today to trust in Jesus Christ for your provision.  His grace is sufficient.  Are you willing to stop living under the yoke of "I GOTTA DO MORE"?  Keep seeking, keep praying.  Let's change to a "WHAT HAS HE DONE FOR ME TODAY" mentality!

Waiting on Him,
ML

What Are You Gonna Do With Your Life?

What a question!  I remember being asked this question when I was in Jr. High School, maybe even before that. I especially remember considering this while in High School.  As the father of a 16 year old daughter who is a junior in High School, this question is floating around in our house even now.  What do you wanna do when you grow up?  I don't really care for the phrasing in that format... My wife is all but convinced that I will never grow up. (She may be right!)  Having been married for 18 years, my wife has watched me make some career changes.  Some were lateral type moves, one sales job to another in pursuit of a better opportunity.  There was also a time when I was advancing up the corporate ladder into mid-level management of a medium sized company.  At 42 years old the longest I have stayed in one place has been 5 1/2 years.  (I went back and spent another 1 1/2)  See, at that point in my life God was using secular employment to prepare me for ministry.

I regret to tell you that at one point during this part of my professional life I lost sight of what was important in my life.  I allowed my priorities to get out of order.  I became focused on success in my job and I did it at the expense of my relationship with Jesus and also at the expense of my family.  They got what was left over and that usually was not very much.  See, I forgot that my significance was not in success, financial gain or another promotion, my significance was and always has been in Jesus Christ.  It was Him that died to save me.  It was Him that rescued me from a life of sin and destruction that would have led me to eternal separation from God.  Yet, I was so selfish that I neglected Him and even the wonderful family He entrusted to my care.

Now listen, before you go and quit your job, cash in whats left of your 401k and spend the remainder of your life on the mission field, (Unless God is leading you that way!) I want to clarify a few things.  We have to support our families.  We have to support our church with tithes and offerings.  I am not suggesting that you forsake your career.  I am asking that you be willing to take a good hard look at the priorities in your life.  We are called to be good stewards with what God has entrusted to us.  I do think that this means our job.

My challenge is that your first priority is your personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  You must have this vertical relationship intact if you have any hope of having horizontal (earthly) relationships intact.  Do not deprive the Giver of Life of your devotion.  He deserves it and He desires it.  Next, love your spouse like there is no tomorrow, he/she is a gift from God.  Pour into your family.  They need to see Godly parents living a life in pursuit of holiness and righteousness.  Allow your vocation to serve as a funding source for your personal ministry.  See, God has already prescribed a plan for your life.  You can read about it in Ephesians 2:10- "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has prepared in advance for us to do."

Will you allow Jesus to be the priority in your life?  Will you trust Him to direct your path as you obey the call He has on your life?  I pray you will.

Waiting on Him,
ML