April 29, 2008
For
a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again:
but
the wicked shall fall into mischief. Proverbs 24:16 KJV
I'd rather fail at
trying to do something noble and glorious, than to succeed at doing almost
nothing.
If you are doing anything for God, you WILL be criticized and misunderstood. If
you're just living for yourself, people won't bother you.
Your critics will no doubt call attention to your mistakes and personal
shortcomings as you live for Someone and Something bigger than yourself. Their
own mistakes and shortcomings, of course, are not as evident as yours, because
they are safely hid in their selfish little world.
While being stretched to the limit of your character and faith as you run after
God's highest plan for your life, your critics will sit safely in their little
comfort zones pointing out your every weakness. But that's alright... who's in
the heat of the game and who's benched on the sideline?
A person's true character is immediately revealed by observing how quickly they
fall for anything or how long they stand for something!
It has been said, IF YOU DON'T STAND FOR SOMETHING, YOU'LL FALL FOR ANYTHING!
Make up your mind what you are going to stand for!
Decide what is most important and stick to it no matter what.
Choose a way of life! Decide your
daily habits.
Build your weekly regimen! Deliberately
choose a lifestyle of faith.
Choose your core values and stay true to them at every crossroad of your life.
Remember God chose you first!
So let your critics speak their mind but do not fall into their trap. Determine who and what you will be led by!
Are you led by
offense or led by the Spirit? Are your choices determined by your feelings about
who recently offended you, or are your choices determined by the voice of God's
Spirit and The Word?
To which are you the most loyal: God's Call on your life, or People's
Preferences for your life?
Ultimately to whom must you answer? To whom must you give a final account? Your
relatives, your family, your friends, your peers, your co-workers, your
employees, your employer, your children, your parents, your generation, your
doctor, your lawyer, your company, or TO YOUR LORD?
I only find out what I am really made out of while in the heat of battle!
Both my redeeming strengths and my glaring weaknesses are revealed to me when I
am under pressure.
Someone has said, "It is good to know that He who will judge me most
finally is also the One who loves me most fully!"
Aren't you glad Jesus measured up to the Father's standards in YOUR PLACE,
instead of you having to struggle a lifetime, trying to measure up by yourself?
How
wonderful it is to be delivered from such an exercise in futility! And what a
joy it is to have entered into His Rest, and His Victory! What a complete
redemption! What a perfect plan! What a miracle!
Remember,
your time and your life is no longer yours.
Stay
focused on the Big picture and what God has called you to do!
Darrel
Mason