Wednesday, December 28, 2022

The Righteous Tried

 


    One of the most confusing things to people about faith is perspective.  Some people ask why do the people living in open sin seem to prosper when the people following Jesus are unjustly persecuted.  Some people say why me?  Other people say why not me?  It is depends on how you look at and perceive life.
    When you become a Christian you should be all in.  Don't claim to be a Christian and go through the motions.  Don't make yourself out as this super generous person.  Do good deeds to do good deeds, not to be noticed.  If you want God to notice, then do good deeds and forget about them.  Don't tell anyone.  
    It always goes back to how Jesus lived his life.  He did good things and told people not to tell anyone else.  The fact is, we can get a big head about things before we even realize it is happening.  Keeping things secret from ourselves can help us stay humble.  
    However, if you decide to lie to the Holy Spirit about being generous, then it may be the last thing you ever do.  If you don't feel led to give or you do not want to give, then don't.  Don't give into peer pressure even inside the church just to try to fit in or any other driving force.  It is more important to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Live a discerning life as a good steward like Peter.  
    If you spread yourself too thin, then you are the one that is going to crash, not the people pulling you in all directions.  If you don't want to give out of greed, then you should deal with your own heart before you start to give.  Generosity is a beautiful thing, but the motives behind your generosity carries a lot more meaning.  
    Satan has a way of manipulating good situations to make them evil.  That is why we need to know our own heart and deal with our own weaknesses.  If not, then Satan will lead you straight into death's arms (literally or spiritually).  The Holy Spirit will not be manipulated and it is dangerous to try.
    When you want to do things in God's name, then you need to ask God what it is that he wants from you.  Don't decide that your way is the best way.  It may be, but without God's approval nothing will come of it.  You may get attention for yourself, but that will leave you vulnerable because you have stepped out of God's protection.  
    This is where it gets tricky.  When you follow Jesus, some people will get jealous.  They may not even understand why, but it reveals the evil in their hearts.  This can take you places you just don't want to go, but you have to follow Jesus.  You may find yourself in a predicament where you have to ask how this could possibly be part of God's plan.  The apostles found themselves in jail more than once.  If you are in that kind of situation you may ask: How can you do any good for God in situations like that?
    The apostles never questioned it.  They turned it into the beginning of a prison ministry.  People in these places need God right now, so God put them where they could be the most impactful in people's lives.  When you are open to anything that God gives you, then you may find yourself in some really uncomfortable situations.  However, if you keep following, then he will keep leading you right through them.  The other option is to fight against God and that is a losing battle.
    Don't lose your focus.  Trust that the Holy Spirit will protect you in the most precarious situations.  Never stop following or you will find yourself in some really scary situations.  God demands obedience, even when it doesn't make since.  In reality obedience is what protects you, so don't listen to anyone who speaks against God's directive.  
    Serving God may be hard.  It may be painful at times.  It may even be exhausting, but there is no better way to live a rejoicing life.  You sometimes have to go through the heat to become refined and stronger.  It brings out your true and holy beauty or it will destroy you if you falter.  You may face disgrace in God's name, but so did Jesus.  Never let it stop you from proclaiming the good news or being a living testimony.

Acts 5
    

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