Four Years wrote:Realistic, so which one is which are you saying?
i wanted to share part of a long Word i received earlier this year on a different forum because something just doesn't make sense to me
He wants you to make Him first in your life, to love Him with all your heart, mind, and soul. He wants you to build a relationship with Him first and then...
I am confused as to how I apparently don't do that yet somehow all the young, busy, and lively Church people DO?
Hi FY,
I do not understand the first question "so which one is which are you saying?"
As to the statement, about making Him first in your life, did I write that to you? I certainly agree with it.
About the statement "I am confused as to how I apparently don't do that yet somehow all the young, busy, and lively Church people DO?" is a good example of comparing yourself with others. Everyone can justify themselves by condemning others and it can turn into a vicious circle that gets us no where.
Here is the best way I can share with you regarding the above...
The way I see it is that the Lord is the one who will judge each and every one of us and HE is the only one worthy to judge us in the end; until our time is up, we are all potential sons of God whom He wishes for us to be blessed, trust in Him and wants more for us than we can imagine... therefore, we should keep our eyes on HIM; not the young, busy, and lively Church people as you write and then we can see more clearly, develop closer relationships with Him, walk more in His wisdom and power of the Holy Spirit and more effectively be a part of the whole Body of Christ.
But if our eyes are on others, we can more easily stumble or get caught up in judgment and/or self condemnation. It is best to work hard at keeping our focus on Him instead and our conscience / mind clean and our heart pure before Him... trusting in Him and leaning on Him for His help.
When we stand before Him one day our heart will be judged and we cannot say I was this way or that way or did this or that because of others or others caused me to... we each and everyone are responsible for our own decisions and choices as adults and are individually accountable to Him. Unless you are responsible for those who trouble you or others then do not be concerned about them (except to pray for or help as you are truly lead by Him). We glorify the Lord, not people, not ourselves -- and the best way to do that is to be an example and walk in Christ. Though God knows, we are not perfect -- our righteousness is as filthy rags and in the world today there appears to be a great deal of nearsighted with narcissism which is really what the enemy offers anyway... selfish pride and ego that causes the strongest man to fall. But of course, we are to commit our sins, submit ourselves and our wills to Him and if we really do seek Him, He is just to deliver us.
The focus is not who is right or wrong in the church but rather on Him so that we grow in Him and help others also while drawing nearer to him. The statement that you are confused as to how others DO [seek Him first, etc.] and apparently you are not doing this appears that you feel you are judged in that regard. If you are doing that, AWESOME, keep on doing that and you will succeed in life!!! But if I wrote that it was not meant in a judgmental manner as I believe that for ALL of us, including myself. If I wrote that then likely it is because you clearly represented trouble in your walk and/or faith and therefore, this is the foundation that I see as making it easier for us to strengthen our walk and faith in Him. Some people say, well I did that and it didn't work or make a difference, but it is something to do always, and a way of life for every true believer. We do not believe only because we can see with our eyes... then we would not need faith. And if we walk according to what we see with our eyes (including judging others), we will miss out on many things of the Lord, our faith withers and it is easier to lose the love of Christ and grow bitter.
1 Corinthians 1
9 But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?”
I hope this helps and sufficiently addresses your post. May the Lord bless you with insight and encouragement.