Seek First The Kingdom of God no. 23

“God’s power has given us everything we need for life and godliness, through our knowing the One who called us to his own glory and goodness. By these he has given us valuable and superlatively great promises, so that through them you might come to share in God’s nature and escape the corruption which evil desires have brought into the world” (2 Kefa (2 Pe) 1:3-4). My life has changed so much since the plague. It was a blessing to my life although it didn’t seem like that at first. When the plague hit and the lockdowns happened, I was afraid. And the plague and lockdowns made me take some personal inventory. And there were decisions I needed to make. So, I started making changes. Now, not for one second do I think any of that was accidental. I was on a road to self destruction and sadness. There was no hope for me. And then there was hope.

God has given me everything I need for life and godliness. It was all there for the taking. I just needed to embrace the gifts He had given and use them for His intended purpose. And here I am years later still writing about the journey when I wake in the morning. Here I am working through His calling for my life. And it can get really weird following God. And you don’t get much choice in how things go when you listen to Him. The path gets paved for you to lead in places that make you uncomfortable. I am so often led into uncomfortable places in my journey because without being uncomfortable, I am not going to grow and change and gain. I need to move out of the comfortable to share God’s nature and escape evil.

One of those areas for growth has been this verse from Paul’s letter to the Romans, “Therefore, let’s stop passing judgment on each other! Instead, make this one judgment — not to put a stumbling block or a snare in a brother’s way” (Romans (Rom) 14:13). I used to be a stumbling block and a snare. I was out to prove how much smarter and better I was than anyone else. And that is the way of the Goyim, looking for mastery and division. Among us, let it not be so. So, I have taken up the uncomfortable position of pointing out stumbling blocks and snares and praying for the best. I don’t need to be right anymore. I don’t need to be smarter anymore. I just need to use the gifts He has given to be the best version of me in His Kingdom. And I pray that pointing out the traps while not condemning folks for not seeing the traps helps me become a better Christian. I fall for the traps and snares just as easily as anyone else. I was afraid when the plague hit despite everything I knew because fear was acceptable. But now fear is not an option. I am content that no matter the seemingly insurmountable danger that abounds in this world, I am content that no matter the scariness of personal tragedy, I am content that no matter the evil that lies in the heart of folks, that God has a plan and He makes the Way.

Seek first His Kingdom which rests on the foundation of love.

Grace and Shalom to your home. The Kingdom of God is now!

I love you. I forgive you. Have a blessed and abundant day!

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #SeekFirstTheKingdom #NotMyWayYHWH

Seek First The Kingdom of God no. 22

“Brothers, suppose someone is caught doing something wrong. You who have the Spirit should set him right, but in a spirit of humility, keeping an eye on yourselves so that you won’t be tempted too. Bear one another’s burdens — in this way you will be fulfilling the Torah’s true meaning, which the Messiah upholds. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is really nothing, he is fooling himself. So let each of you scrutinize his own actions. Then if you do find something to boast about, at least the boasting will be based on what you have actually done and not merely on a judgment that you are better than someone else; for each person will carry his own load” (Galatians (Gal) 6:1-5). Christians are really bad at correcting each other. Christians are really bad at taking correction. A lot of times that is because we are still trapped in the ways of the Goyim. Rather than wanting to help a brother or sister, we are looking to be right and make ourselves feel superior. It is a behavior I have found myself struggling with on more than one occasion.

I should have a spirit of humility when I correct. That means that maybe I am not right. That is totally possible and probable. I used to walk around with a lot of wrong ideas about The Bible, God, and Christianity. A lot of those wrong ideas were based on not reading The Bible, not talking to God, and not being around Christians. And I probably still have a lot of wrong ideas rolling around in my head. Wisdom comes from understanding that my way is not the right way, it is the right way for me right now. Every day I am putting off the old man and becoming something new in the Spirit indwelling within me. I should be a better Christian today than I was tomorrow, last week, last month, and last year because there is no coasting in Christianity. Staying the same is not progress, it isn’t growth, and it isn’t a faithful walk with Him.

I should bear the burdens of my brothers and sisters. Whenever I think about bearing burdens, the most readily available outlet is prayer. For whom am I praying? How do I want the world to be better? A lot of times when I was first getting my life together for God, my prayers were self-centered. I wanted my life to change. Now, I am praying for the betterment of others and the betterment of my community. BUT bearing burdens is not just prayer. Sometimes it is a hug. Sometimes it is spending time together. Sometimes it is helping someone eat. Sometimes it is helping someone pay their bills. A lot of our burdens are still physical, worldly problems that need addressing before our spiritual needs can be met. Too often folks want to strong arm religion into Christianity when acting like Jesus is the best way to be a light to the world.

I should not think I am better than someone else. And, wow, do I still struggle with my ego on this one at times. I still love to stand in judgment. And I am around a lot of folks that are still standing in judgment as well. Churches are filled with people that think they are better than someone else. Having a servant’s heart can help in this situation, however, it never cures this positional hierarchy folks work out in their own minds. It is a battle with which I struggle a lot. Ignoring the problem or pretending to be humble is just lying to myself and God. And I think too often I do not examine my motives for speaking up. There are a lot of battles I choose to fight that are not the battles He is choosing for me to fight. And that is when I need to pray first and speak later. And that is one of those lessons I need to keep learning daily. Too often I can get secure in my own understanding and especially so in the land of social media where folks are quick to judge, disdain, and block. I need to always remember that I am not the path to being better, “But now, quite apart from Torah , God’s way of making people righteous in his sight has been made clear — although the Torah and the Prophets give their witness to it as well — and it is a righteousness that comes from God, through the faithfulness of Yeshua the Messiah, to all who continue trusting. For it makes no difference whether one is a Jew or a Gentile, since all have sinned and come short of earning God’s praise” (Romans (Rom) 3:21-23). It is only God that makes me a better me. And only God can make you a better you.

What makes someone a good person? God.

Seek first His Kingdom which rests on the foundation of love.

Grace and Shalom to your home. The Kingdom of God is now!

I love you. I forgive you. Have a blessed and abundant day!

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #SeekFirstTheKingdom #NotMyWayYHWH